USDA Strengthens National Security and Protects Taxpayers by Standardizing Grant and Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions

On December 31, 2025, the USDA released a Secretary's Memorandum ordering all USDA agencies and staff to implement new USDA General Terms and Conditions (T&Cs), effective immediately, for all future USDA awards. The new General T&Cs include several research security-related requirements, including institutional certification regarding foreign ownership, control, or influence by a country of concern, institutional malign foreign talent recruitment program certification, institutional research security training certification, and institutional certification of Common Form information.