The Trump administration is shuttering two of the three US Department of Agriculture research projects studying cyclospora after the foodborne parasite has sickened tens of thousands of Americans during the summer, Politico reported on Sunday.
The two projects were defunded by Congress earlier in the year, while the third is due to be moved in coming months from Maryland to Iowa as part of a broader USDA reorganization, according to the report.
Although the third project remains funded, all scientists working on the parasite have declined to relocate to Iowa, Politico reported, citing people familiar with the plans and internal documents.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
“None of the research has been disrupted, and research will continue without disruption,” a USDA spokesperson said, while pointing to Congress over the funding cuts.
Congress did not appropriate funding for the two research projects that were being undertaken at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center outside Washington DC for the ۲۰۲۶ fiscal year in the Agriculture Appropriations Act, the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The spokesperson added that the Agricultural Research Service is working with research leaders to ensure an orderly transition of the programs.
Scientists researching foodborne parasites, including cyclospora, are retiring or leaving the USDA’s ARS rather than relocating or being reassigned to other projects, the report said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded more than ۱۷,۰۰۰ confirmed cyclosporiasis cases across ۴۸ states plus Washington DC, from ۱ May to ۲۴ August, making it one of the largest foodborne illness outbreaks in recent US history.
At least ۱۱,۸۴۴ additional cases may require further investigation and analysis, the CDC said.
