Agricultural Research Service Receives Communication Guidance

An internal email sent to the Agricultural Research Service allegedly directs the department not to release any public facing documents, but the Department of Agriculture says the email “was flawed” and that new guidance would be issued to replace it.

According to Reuters, the email was sent Monday, the first business day of the new Donald Trump administration.  The email directed ARS staff not publish press releases, photos, fact sheets or social media content until further notice.

The memo was reportedly similar to one sent to EPA.

However, in a statement, USDA said peer-reviewed scientific papers from the unit should not be blocked, adding that ARS “is committed to maintaining the free flow of information between scientists and the American public."

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