美农业部以“国家安全”为由解雇外国合同制研究员，“多为中国博士后”

Group 1 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has terminated approximately 70 foreign contract researchers as part of a national security review, particularly targeting individuals from countries of concern such as China and Russia [1][3] - The USDA's actions are part of a broader agricultural security plan announced by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, which includes prohibiting citizens from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from purchasing U.S. farmland and ending existing research collaborations with these nations [3] - The terminated researchers were primarily Chinese postdoctoral researchers who had already undergone background checks prior to their employment, raising concerns about the impact on ongoing agricultural research projects [3][4] Group 2 - The USDA's decision is seen as a departure from its traditional role as a facilitator of U.S.-China cooperation in agriculture, which could harm the U.S. agricultural sector's reliance on scientific research and innovation [4] - Experts suggest that the termination of these researchers may lead to a decline in agricultural research capabilities, potentially setting back advancements in critical areas such as vaccine development for food safety [3][4] - The political interference in scientific research is likely to have long-term negative consequences for U.S. agricultural development and may exacerbate the challenges of talent retention and international collaboration in the field [4]