The US Department of Agriculture's George Washington Carver Center in Beltsville, Maryland, is facing a bed bug infestation that has disrupted operations at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The infestation was first reported in mid-May, prompting the USDA to send employees home temporarily while the building was fumigated. Upon their return, employees experienced health issues due to toxic fumes from the treatment, which led to another telework period. However, bed bugs reappeared last week, and the USDA has not permitted further telework, instead instructing employees to utilize their vacation time if they do not wish to come to the office. Acting COO Carson Hawley indicated that the resurgence was due to insufficient compliance regarding personal items left in offices, urging staff to bag their belongings for proper pest treatment. The USDA maintains that it has taken significant measures to address the issue, but personal items have complicated the mitigation efforts.