It has long been the policy than no one at the USGS is allowed to publish anything until it has been vetted. It don't know of it ever being a problem there, but under Trump, it is deeply worrying.
"Ganapathiraju told the Guardian that the article was in full compliance with the VA regulations, which state that employees are encouraged to publish in “peer-reviewed, professional or scholarly journals”. Coordination with public affairs officers is encouraged, but not required, when sharing personal or academic opinions, the rules say."