County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy Joins Maryland Leaders in Applauding the Court’s Decision Regarding USDA/BARC
For Immediate Release:
October 14, 2026
For information contact:
Brian Fischer
Chief Communications Officer
Prince George’s County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy
cexcomms@co.pg.md.us
PRESS RELEASE
County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy Joins Maryland Leaders in Applauding the Court's Decision Regarding USDA/BARC
LARGO, MD — County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy today joined federal and state elected leaders from across Maryland to applaud the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California’s decision to halt the Trump Administration’s effort to restructure and reorganize the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The court’s decision will stop the Administration’s attempt to permanently close the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Prince George’s County, which is an important research hub and major employer for the region.
Earlier this year, Prince George’s County joined a coalition of federal employee labor unions, local governments and non-profits who sued to stop the Trump Administration’s unlawful attempt to restructure USDA. The coalition argued that Trump’s plan to downsize USDA was illegal because Congress passed a law prohibiting USDA from moving forward with agency reorganizations and the plan was arbitrary and capricious because it did not study the plan’s impact on USDA’s ability to carry out important statutorily required functions like agricultural research and conservation. The court agreed with the plaintiffs and granted the stay which ultimately blocks the Trump Administration from moving forward with its downsizing plan.
“As County Executive, I will continue to fight for federal employees and federal jobs. We know that people don’t take federal jobs just for the money, they take them because they believe in public service and the important missions of their agencies,” said County Executive Braveboy. “I will fight for federal jobs in our County and the wealth and stability that comes with them.”
USDA’s Beltsville Agricultural Center represents a critical economic landmark for Prince George’s County and Maryland as a whole. The Trump Administration sought to shut down BARC and transfer its employees to other locations throughout the country. The court’s decision saves an estimated 1,000 jobs that are supported by BARC. BARC’s permanent closure would have caused a roughly $450 million reduction to the gross domestic product of the State of Maryland.
The Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, Joseline Peña-Melnyk, whose representative district includes Beltsville, lent her support to County Executive Braveboy and was steadfast in her defense of the “national treasure” that is BARC for Prince George’s County.
“As Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates and a representative of the community that is home to BARC, I am grateful to our congressional delegation, the Prince George’s County Executive, Aisha Braveboy, and the 21st District Delegation for standing together to defend this extraordinary resource. This ruling is an important step, but our work is not finished. BARC’s contributions extend far beyond Maryland’s borders, and its future deserves lasting protection.”
A chorus of voices which included U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, Representatives Glenn Ivey, Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski joined the County Executive and the Speaker of the House in applauding the court’s decision.
“As we’ve said time and again, this Administration’s attempts to shutter BARC are not only unwise – they’re illegal. BARC conducts critical research that helps farmers across our nation put food on the table for American families – including combatting serious threats to our agriculture, like cyclospora and avian flu. Last night’s ruling from a federal judge made plain: the Administration’s efforts are in clear violation of Congressional intent. We will continue fighting back against the Trump Administration’s lawless attempts to close this facility, undermining its crucial research on behalf of American farmers and families,” stated the democratic members of Maryland’s Federal Delegation.
This decision represents an important victory for Prince George’s County, the State of Maryland, and the nation’s agricultural research community. County Executive Braveboy and state and federal partners remain committed to protecting BARC’s mission and ensuring the continuation of its vital research and advanced scientific contributions to farmers and families nationwide.
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