USDA Research Scientists Ordered To Cease Public Communications

FILE - In this May 1, 2014 file photo, fourth-generation rice farmer Josh Sheppard walks across the dried-up ditch at his rice farm in Richvale, Calif. More than 40 percent of California has emerged from a punishing... FILE - In this May 1, 2014 file photo, fourth-generation rice farmer Josh Sheppard walks across the dried-up ditch at his rice farm in Richvale, Calif. More than 40 percent of California has emerged from a punishing drought that covered the whole state a year ago, federal drought-watchers said Thursday, Jan. 12 a stunning transformation caused by an unrelenting series of storms in the North that filled lakes, overflowed rivers and buried mountains in snow. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) MORE LESS
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The Department of Agriculture has instructed over 2,000 employees in its Agricultural Research Service to cease all public communications.

“Starting immediately and until further notice, ARS will not release any public-facing documents,” an email from ARS Chief of Staff Sharon D. Drumm sent Monday and obtained by TPM reads. “This includes, but is not limited to, news releases, photos, fact sheets, news feeds, and social media content.”

According to Buzzfeed News, who first reported on the email, one regional director followed up on the message to assure confused agency scientists that they could still publish papers in academic journals.

Buzzfeed reported the director told them any media interviews would still have to be approved by the agency’s Washington, D.C. communications office, though.

The USDA did not reply to Buzzfeed’s request for comment.

The Trump administration recently ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to temporarily suspend awarding of grands and contract. The Huffington Post noted that agency employees had also received orders to strictly prohibit external communication.

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