Statement from Congressman Ivey in Support of Prince George’s County Lawsuit Against USDA Closure of BARC

July 13, 2026 Press Release Image Thursday, July 2, 2026 Today, Prince George's County joined a coalition of labor unions, nonprofit organizations, and other cities and counties in filing a lawsuit to block  the USDA and the Trump Administration's efforts to decommission the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) and force mass staff departures at BARC and other parts of the USDA. (Source: The lawsuit challenges the Trump administration's unlawful attempts to use widespread and unjustified office relocations to force the mass resignations of federal government employees.  The impact would be devastating for hardworking government employees who deliver vital services to farmers, businesses, and families across the country and would render the USDA unable to perform its essential duties. Closing BARC would break apart a critical network of agricultural research that has taken generations to build. BARC’s career scientists and neighboring partners have spent decades protecting our food supply, strengthening farm productivity, maintaining food safety, and helping American agriculture respond to emerging threats. Congress has already made clear that USDA must not proceed with major research closures and reorganizations without proper transparency and accountability. This lawsuit is an important tool to enforce that requirement and protect the public interest. I strongly support this effort to secure a preliminary injunction, preserve the status quo, and prevent USDA from taking actions that could permanently damage BARC before the court has ruled. I will continue fighting in Congress and alongside every available legal effort to stop this reckless closure and protect the people at BARC whose work helps feed families and support farmers across the country. For more on this case, please click here . To read the filed supplemental complaint, please click here , and to read the memorandum in support of preliminary injunction, please click here Issues : Congress Federal Workers