The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service has placed 17 employees on administrative leave with the possibility of furloughs to follow, according to a USDA employee with knowledge of the matter.
The 17 employees, whose salaries are primarily funded by the State Department or the U.S. Agency for International Development, lost access to their USDA emails and the agency’s broader network at noon Monday, according to the person who was granted anonymity to discuss the matter. At least one of the webpages detailing their work also appears to have been removed.
The workers have been primarily engaged in international agricultural development, which includes improving farming practices, promoting economic development to enable greater trade and helping communities access improved nutrition.
A USDA spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
