Claims of workplace hazards at USDA lab substantiated by Office of Special Counsel

A new report sent to President Donald Trump officially substantiated whistleblower claims of workplace safety concerns at a major ag research facility that led USDA to invest $50 million in renovation and improvement efforts.

The Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, located in a Maryland suburb of Washington, first came under scrutiny by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel in May 2023. BARC whistleblowers claimed “leadership failed to adequately address complaints concerning workplace conditions since 2017,” according to the report.

Specific complaints included lack of running water in the building, poorly regulated temperature in facility, nonoperational elevators, water damage, and nonfunctional fire suppression systems.

In response, the Office of Special Counsel found “substantial likelihood of wrongdoing” at the facility in June 2023. The allegations were not officially substantiated until this report was sent to the president this week.

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USDA conducted an investigation into these claims in 2023 which “largely substantiated the whistleblowers’ allegations” and found “pervasive safety deficiencies,” according to the report. However, USDA did not substantiate the claims related to loss of scientific equipment, research and data which were included in the whistleblowers’ concerns.

Charles Baldis, senior counsel and designee of Acting Special Counsel Jamieson Greer, said in the report “many corrective actions have been completed” to address workplace concerns at the facility, such as selecting a new permanent BARC director and establishing a “new BARC Master Plan to plan, prioritize, and modernize” workspaces.

"I thank the whistleblowers for bringing these allegations to OSC," Baldis said. "Given the significance of the whistleblowers’ disclosures and the agency’s comprehensive response, OSC recommends that the USDA recognize their contributions to improve government efficiency and the safety of BARC workers and consider issuing a monetary award to them."

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