US Agriculture Department expels dozens of Russian, Chinese scientists in security crackdown

Due to concerns raised by U.S. authorities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has terminated its cooperation with 70 foreign specialists from countries Washington deems problematic, including Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, per Fox News.

According to a USDA spokesperson, the contractors in question came from "countries of concern," which led to their removal from department projects.

Thomas Henderson, a representative of the union for scientific employees, stated that the affected individuals had been working at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), which is the USDA’s scientific branch.

It was noted that most of those dismissed were qualified Chinese researchers with doctoral degrees. Some reportedly discovered their work authorisations had been revoked upon arriving for work this week.

By Khagan Isayev