WASHINGTON – Anonymous threats made Aug. 29 prompted the US Dept. of Agriculture to close six facilities in five states pending further notice.
USDA offices that have been closed include: Fort Collins, Colorado; Hamden, Connecticut, Beltsville, Maryland, Raleigh, North Carolina, and Kearneysville and Leetown, West Virginia.
In a statement, Matt Herrick, director of communications said, “USDA is working closely with federal and local law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to determine whether the threats are credible. Personnel at these locations have been made aware of the threats and will not report to these offices until further notice.
Herrick added that the closures affect several agencies under the USDA including the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); Agricultural Research Service (ARS); Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS); Forest Service (FS); National Agricultural Library (NAL); Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS); Office of the Inspector General and USDA Departmental Management.