Stop-Work Orders Issued Following Trump Administration’s Freeze on Foreign Aid, Impacting 17 Agricultural Research Laboratories

Date: February 14, 2025
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The Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have led to significant disruptions within a network of agricultural research laboratories associated with land-grant universities across 13 states. Reports by Reuters, citing insights from six lab directors, reveal that the freeze on foreign aid has effectively halted operations at these vital research facilities.

This abrupt cessation of activities represents yet another challenge for U.S. agriculture, as initiatives aimed at advancing seed and equipment technology, as well as efforts to cultivate international markets for American agricultural products, have been obstructed. Farmers are already grappling with interruptions in government food purchase programs targeted for aid, as well as disruptions to agricultural grant and loan initiatives.

Land-grant universities, established with federal land allocations to states, play a crucial role in agricultural research and education. Peter Goldsmith, director of the University of Illinois’ Soybean Innovation Lab—one of the affected laboratories—expressed concerns regarding the implications for American farmers, stating, "For U.S. farmers, this is not good."

The network of 17 laboratories has been supported by USAID through its Feed the Future Innovation Labs program, which has facilitated research collaborations with countries like Malawi, Tanzania, Bangladesh, and Rwanda. The findings and advancements from these international projects are of significant benefit to U.S. farmers, as they can lead to the development of agricultural practices that are applicable domestically and provide early warnings about emerging pest threats.

David Hughes, director of the USAID Innovation Lab focusing on Current and Emerging Threats to Crops at Penn State University, emphasized the importance of this international research. "It really reduces our capacity to help farmers fight pests and diseases and help American farmers prevent incursions," he stated. One specific project impacted by the halt involved efforts to control a viral disease transmitted by aphids that has been detrimental to banana crops in Tanzania.

David Tschirley, who oversees an agency-funded lab at Michigan State University and serves as chair of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab Council, noted that approximately 300 employees work across these labs, with an extensive network of up to 4,000 collaborators worldwide. He highlighted the labs’ role in fostering positive international relations, saying, "It presents an American face to the world that is very appreciated," while also asserting that such research contributes to national security.

Stop-Work Orders

At the end of January, all 17 labs received stop-work orders following President Trump’s decision to freeze most foreign aid. Since then, the labs have reportedly received no further guidance or responses to inquiries directed at the State Department, which oversees USAID, according to Tschirley. In response to this financial uncertainty, some laboratories are seeking support from their host universities to cover operational costs, with results varying across institutions.

For instance, Michigan State University has permitted Tschirley’s lab to retain employees, anticipating eventual approval of costs by USAID. Conversely, Goldsmith disclosed that he was compelled to lay off all 30 staff members at his lab last week. He indicated plans to close the facility entirely by April 15, underscoring the lab’s prior contributions in offering technical assistance to farmers cultivating soybeans in various African nations and aiding companies in establishing soy-processing facilities.

Among the lab’s collaborators are major agribusiness firms such as Bayer, Corteva, BASF, and Archer-Daniels-Midland. Bayer, a leading global producer of crop seeds and agricultural chemicals, stated that it is currently assessing the impact of the funding suspension, while the other companies either declined to comment or did not respond to inquiries.

Beyond the immediate effects on research, the Trump administration’s broader initiatives have also had a ripple effect on U.S. agriculture. The freeze on foreign aid has temporarily halted tens of millions of dollars in U.S. commodity purchases. Additionally, farmers across the nation have reported delays in receiving payments from various federal farm programs, a situation exacerbated by the administration’s directive to freeze federal loans and grants—a directive that has faced legal challenges.

As the landscape of agricultural research and support continues to evolve in the wake of these federal actions, the long-term implications for U.S. farmers and the agricultural sector remain uncertain. The halt of these research initiatives not only affects the immediate operational capabilities of the laboratories involved but also poses a significant threat to the advancement of agricultural practices that benefit both domestic and international stakeholders.