NIFA Update – USDA Records Freeze

Officials at your institution likely received an email from Mr. Robert Magill, USDA-ARS Director of Financial Management and Agreements, informing all USDA Non-Federal partners and recipients that USDA is under a “Records Disposal Freeze.” Such a freeze requires your organization to retain (i.e., not destroy) all paper and/or electronic records associated with agreements with some USDA agencies and offices. The freeze does not pertain to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), only to records associated with the following USDA agencies and offices:

• OCE – Office of Chief Economist
• NASS – National Agricultural Statistics Service
• ERS – Economic Research Service
• ARS – Agricultural Research Service
• APHIS – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
• AMS – Agricultural Marketing Service
• OPMP – Office of Pest Management Policy
• OSEC – Office of the Secretary

The freeze was predicated upon a Freedom of Information Act request of the USDA, which may or may not require USDA to eventually provide third party cooperator records. You will receive further instructions from USDA when the freeze is lifted or in the unlikely event that some other action is required on your part.  Please let Bill Hoffman, NIFA Chief of Staff, know if you have any specific concerns or wish additional information.