(NewsNation) — Farmers have raised concerns that deep personnel and funding cuts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture are leaving crops and livestock more susceptible to disease and parasites, potentially threatening the safety of America’s food supply.
According to NPR, recent staffing losses at the USDA, which were driven by the Trump administration’s push to reduce the federal workforce, have put U.S. farms at risk.
Experts have claimed these cuts are straining the USDA’s ability to research diseases like bird flu and eradicate pests like the boll weevil and the New World screwworm, which has recently reemerged in Mexico. The cuts have also reportedly affected the processing of grant money, which many farmers have already budgeted for but haven’t received in time to benefit their crops.
15K+ staffers leave USDA amid DOGE cuts
More than 15,000 USDA staffers, about 15% of the agency’s workforce, agreed to the Trump administration’s early retirement or voluntary buyout offers.
One USDA lab that monitors animal diseases like bird flu has reportedly lost 20% to 30% of its staff, Reuters reported.
Ashley Randle, Massachusetts’ agriculture commissioner, sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins warning staff cuts could lead to a massive loss of knowledge in areas such as plant and animal health, farming practices and production, and food distribution.
A USDA spokesperson told NewsNation that no layoffs occurred and that the departures were part of a deferred retirement program. Rollins is “working to reorient the department to be more effective and efficient,” they said.
USDA releasing frozen funds: Sec. Brooke Rollins
Last month, Rollins told a House subcommittee that some frozen USDA funds have been released and the agency is working to release more.
Despite the delays, some in the agriculture community remain supportive of the administration’s efforts.
“My farmers are very happy with the Trump administration,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told NewsNation. “There’s been some delays in some of the payouts, but they understand we’ve got to get in there and dig out the rot and corruption in federal government.”
It’s unclear how much funding is still frozen or when it will be fully distributed to farmers.
In April, Rollins announced the USDA would have some exemptions to the federal hiring freeze.