On March 20, 2025 USDA reportedly barred the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) from using certain terms in any agreements. The ARS is the USDA’s scientific research arm.
The list of banned words included “environmental justice,” “underserved,” “climate,” “climate models,” “water pollution,” “water collection,” and “PFAS.” Specifically, the memo stated agreements using these terms should not be submitted to the “Exceptions Request to the Agreements Moratorium List.” USDA has not provided clarification about the implications of this directive.