1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the USDA’s current directive to decommission the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), including the premier Beltsville Bee Research Laboratory. Shuttering this facility directly undermines American food security and our agricultural economy.  The Beltsville Bee Lab provides a critical national defense hub for beekeepers. Following devastating nationwide colony losses to pesticide-resistant mites and viruses, losing this institution’s specialized crisis intervention and free diagnostic services will leave our agricultural system incredibly vulnerable. Moving these complex experiments to other regions risks disrupting decades of vital research data tailored to our local ecosystems.  Furthermore, this shutdown actively defies the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture Appropriations Act, which mandated that BARC remain open. Forcing scientists and staff to relocate will cause a catastrophic loss of irreplaceable expertise.  I urge you to use every legal and legislative tool available to enforce congressional intent, halt this unlawful closure, and protect the vital scientific research our farmers and food supply depend on daily.