A plan to move Agriculture Department researchers out of Washington has thrown two small but influential science agencies into upheaval. ERS is a statistical agency that provides research for lawmakers; NIFA funds hundreds of millions of dollars in agricultural research each year. If relocation expenses exceed $3 million, then USDA would be required to involve the General Services Administration, the agency that manages federal offices, Winch said. “USDA is using its own legal authorities” for the relocation project, “and GSA is not involved,” said Pamela D. Pennington, a GSA spokeswoman. Read more:Trump administration plans to move USDA research divisions despite concernsAfter outcry, USDA will no longer require scientists to label research ‘preliminary’China increasingly challenges American dominance of science

Source: Washington Post May 22, 2019 18:36 UTC