On May 13, 2025, unions representing employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent a letter to Congress, expressing grave concerns over the agency's ability to ensure food safety and effectively manage the ongoing bird flu outbreak. The letter attributes these challenges to significant budget cuts and a substantial reduction in staff under President Donald Trump's administration.

Addressed to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate and House appropriations committees overseeing the USDA, the letter highlights that more than 15,000 USDA employees have departed the agency. This exodus has severely diminished the technical expertise necessary to tackle critical issues, including the current avian influenza crisis. The unions emphasize that the proposed $4.5 billion budget reduction, affecting conservation and research programs, has exacerbated these challenges.

The USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has experienced a significant loss of food safety scientists, limiting the agency's capacity to prevent foodborne illnesses and detect contaminants. Additionally, staff have been prohibited from attending conferences and face unclear communication restrictions regarding agency impacts. These constraints undermine key USDA missions, such as climate adaptation and nutrition fraud prevention.

The unions urge Congress to exercise oversight to prevent the dismantling of decades of knowledge and infrastructure that ensure food safety and security.

Background on the USDA and Its Functions

The USDA is a federal agency responsible for developing and executing laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. Its mission includes ensuring food safety, supporting agricultural research, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The ARS serves as the USDA's principal in-house research agency, focusing on a wide range of agricultural and food-related issues, including food safety and disease prevention.

Impact of Budget Cuts and Staff Reductions

The departure of over 15,000 employees, including veterinarians and laboratory workers, has significantly impacted the USDA's operational capacity. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has seen a reduction of over 20% in its Veterinary Services division and approximately half of its legislative and public affairs team. These losses pose severe challenges to disease monitoring, response, and prevention efforts.

The proposed $4.5 billion budget cuts have further strained the agency's resources, affecting conservation and research programs. The ARS has lost a substantial number of its food safety scientists, limiting the agency's capacity to prevent foodborne illnesses and detect contaminants.

Current Challenges: The Bird Flu Outbreak

The ongoing bird flu outbreak has led to the culling of millions of birds, causing multibillion-dollar losses and raising concerns about potential human transmission. The outbreak has also spread to cattle and other species, with over 1,000 bovine cases reported. The loss of experienced personnel and budget constraints have hindered the USDA's ability to effectively monitor and respond to the crisis.

Political and Economic Context

The Trump administration's budget cuts may be driven by a broader agenda to reduce federal spending and decrease the size of government agencies. However, these reductions could have unintended consequences, such as compromising food safety and public health. The administration has also cut $160 million in funding to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), disrupting global efforts to monitor and control the spread of bird flu.

Potential Consequences

The significant reduction in USDA staff and budget cuts pose substantial risks to public health and food security. The loss of technical expertise hampers the agency's ability to effectively monitor and respond to foodborne illnesses and agricultural diseases, such as the ongoing bird flu outbreak. This situation could lead to increased incidences of food contamination, affecting consumer confidence and public health.

The unions' letter underscores the need for Congressional oversight to prevent the dismantling of decades of knowledge and infrastructure that ensure food safety and security. As the nation grapples with the ongoing bird flu outbreak, the importance of a fully staffed and adequately funded USDA cannot be overstated.