The Beltsville Agricultural Research Center’s future remains murky

Workers at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center remain caught in the muck of political turmoil that got even murkier this month.

A federal judge in California ruled on Oct. 14 that the Trump administration must pause its plan to shutter the facility, which has long been the nation’s leading site for agricultural research.

Despite the court ruling, Brooke Rollins, secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture — which oversees the center — said on Oct. 22 that the agency was “full-bore ahead” with its sweeping restructuring plan, according to a report from The Associated Press.

The administration claims that the effort, which includes relocating employees, will cut costs and bring officials closer to affected areas.

But on the same day, Rollins’ deputy appears to have told a federal judge precisely the opposite.

“USDA will not close or consolidate the resources or locations of any [Agricultural Research Service] laboratory or facility including the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center,” Mary Pletcher Rice, USDA’s acting principal deputy assistant secretary for administration, wrote in an Oct. 22 court filing.

“On October 21, 2026, with the approval of the General Services Administration (GSA), USDA extended the effective date of these closures to December 11, 2026,” Pletcher Rice’s court declaration said.

The date in December marks the expiration of a spending bill that bars the administration from reorganizing or relocating offices or employees without congressional approval.

U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey, who represents Beltsville and other Prince George’s County jurisdictions, says the contradiction underscores the posturing of the Trump administration versus what it actually does.

“It’s been very tough for the employees who have been caught in the middle of this. They’re working hard doing research and making a difference for the American people,” Ivey told The Banner. “And they get sandbagged by this transfer edict out of the blue.”

“It’s interesting because a lot of times, the Trump administration, they’ll say one thing in the press conference, but when they have to go to court and say it under oath it’s a different story,” he added.

In an emailed statement, an unnamed USDA spokesperson did not address the status of the agency’s plans for BARC employees.

The spokesperson defended the administration’s restructuring efforts, arguing that the department had long suffered from inadequate funding, staffing and management of its facilities and resources. They also criticized opposition from federal courts and nonprofit organizations, saying the administration viewed its changes as necessary.

The spokesperson cited a Republican-led congressional bill that passed in 2024 to ensure federal buildings were being used efficiently.

They also claimed the USDA’s reorganization plan would increase, rather than decrease, the number of agency employees in Prince George’s County. The spokesperson did not provide specific numbers to support this notion and did not immediately respond to a follow-up request for data.

BARC occupies 6,500 acres across Beltsville, and researchers there are responsible for breeding the first commercially available turkey and developing the Roma tomato.

Officials estimate that 1,000 jobs are at risk if the Trump administration pushes forward its restructuring.

Ivey pointed to BARC’s collaborations with neighboring agencies and institutions in Prince George’s, including NASA, NOAA and the University of Maryland. Together, they conduct research on growing crops more efficiently and the effects of climate change.

He and other Maryland lawmakers are working to keep BARC in place, including by pursuing legislative measures to extend the closure deadline beyond Dec. 11.

The Trump administration is likely to appeal the federal court ruling, according to news reports.

Ivey is also considering legislative oversight, “especially depending on what happens Nov. 3,” when Democrats could take control of the U.S. House, he said.

He said there was already some sentiment of bipartisan support. But he is working to develop further awareness of the wide-ranging effects of the administration’s efforts on states and districts represented by Republican lawmakers.

BARC workers told NBC4 Washington that some of their colleagues had already relocated and uprooted their lives ahead of this pause.

Ivey has been heartened by BARC employees who have voiced dissent about the administration’s actions.

“It’s a tough time, I think, for a lot of Americans,” Ivey said. “There’s sort of an effort by the Trump administration to steamroll federal government employees in general — BARC employees in particular.

“I think it’s a good sign from a standpoint of the health of the American democracy that these workers are pushing back and fighting back to make sure that they get a chance to continue doing the work that benefits the American people.”

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