Key facts
- Two USDA research projects on cyclospora have been shelved due to congressional funding cuts.
- A third project is relocating from Maryland to Iowa.
- Scientists have declined to relocate for the third project.
- Over 17,000 cyclosporiasis cases have been reported this summer.
- USDA attributes the funding cuts to Congress's FY2026 Agriculture Appropriations Act.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has shelved two of its three research projects focused on cyclospora, a foodborne parasite that has sickened thousands of Americans this summer. The decision, reported by Politico, stems from funding cuts by Congress and a broader USDA reorganization.
While the two projects were defunded in the FY2026 Agriculture Appropriations Act, the third project is slated for relocation from Maryland to Iowa. However, scientists working on the parasite have reportedly declined to move, raising further concerns about the continuity of research into foodborne pathogens.
The USDA has attributed the funding cuts to Congress, with a spokesperson stating that research will continue without disruption. Nevertheless, experts worry that the shelving of these projects will hinder future investigations into cyclospora and similar foodborne illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded over 17,000 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis this summer, making it one of the largest foodborne illness outbreaks in recent U.S. history.