USDA Plans to Close Beltsville Bee Lab, Threatening Pollinator Research

The USDA plans to close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland, home to the nation's premier bee research lab, the Beltsville Bee Research Lab. The closure comes at a critical time: in winter 2025, beekeepers lost over 60% of their colonies—nearly 1.7 million nationwide—due to pesticide-resistant varroa mites and deadly viruses, costing an estimated $600 million in lost honey production, pollination income, and colony replacement. The lab has provided free disease diagnostics for over 130 years and is developing protocols for the invasive Tropilaelaps mercedesae mite. The USDA cites $500 million in needed renovations, but critics argue the closure will cost far more. The Trump administration previously fired probationary researchers and imposed a communication lockdown, delaying findings for six months. Additional cuts include the USGS Bee Lab, 16 USGS research centers, and 57 of 77 Forest Service research stations, risking a severe brain drain. Honey bees contribute $15 billion annually to U.S. crop production, pollinating over 130 crops. The closures could slow responses to bee threats, weaken native bee tracking, and raise costs for beekeepers, farmers, and consumers.