Surveying the US Department of Agriculture

A 2018 survey of USDA scientists conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists and Iowa State University reveals significant concerns regarding the politicization of science. Key findings include widespread reports of workforce reductions, restrictions on communicating scientific findings to the media, and the diversion of resources away from research deemed politically contentious.

• A significant majority of surveyed USDA scientists reported restrictions on their ability to communicate their work to the public and media. Specifically, 78 percent (221 respondents) stated they must obtain agency pre-approval to communicate with journalists, and 38 percent (109 respondents) disagreed or strongly disagreed that they can speak to the public or news media about their scientific findings, including at professional meetings and conferences.
• Workforce reductions are widespread within the USDA and are perceived as a barrier to the agency's mission. 90 percent (266 respondents) reported workforce reductions due to hiring freezes, retirements, and staff departures; of those, 92 percent (245 respondents) indicated these losses made it more difficult for the USDA to fulfill its science-based mission.
• There is evidence of resource diversion based on political considerations, with 36 percent (105 respondents) agreeing that funding and staff time have been shifted away from programs and offices performing work viewed as politically contentious.
• The survey indicates a divide regarding the ability to publish research; while 50 percent (144 respondents) feel they can publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals regardless of the topic's controversy, the remaining half do not share this confidence.
• Despite concerns over politicization, a slight majority of respondents (54 percent or 159 people) reported that the USDA provides adequate time and resources for career staff to engage in professional development, such as trainings and scientific societies.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2018). Surveying the US Department of Agriculture. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/science-under-trump-usda.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Surveying the US Department of Agriculture. 2018. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/science-under-trump-usda.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Surveying the US Department of Agriculture |date=August 2018 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/science-under-trump-usda.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2018surveying, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Surveying the US Department of Agriculture}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2018}, month = aug, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/science-under-trump-usda.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }