At least 15,000 USDA employees accept voluntary resignation offer
Share this @internewscast.com


(The Hill) Thousands of employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) accepted the Trump administration’s voluntary resignation offer, leading to a significant reduction in force.

The decrease accounts for about 15% of the total workforce at the department, which regulates food quality, agriculture development and nationwide nutrition efforts. A USDA spokesperson told The Hill that as of May 1, some 15,182 employees elected to take a resignation offer.

“Secretary [Brooke] Rollins is working to reorient the department to be more effective and efficient at serving the American people, including by prioritizing farmers, ranchers, and producers. She will not compromise the critical work of the Department,” the spokesperson said.

“As part of this reorientation, the Deferred Retirement Program (DRP), a completely voluntary tool, was used to empower employees to decide what is best for them,” they added. 

The spokesperson said the Biden administration hired a large number of workers with “no sustainable” way to pay them. 

A USDA readout detailed that 555 employees at the Food Safety and Inspection Service took the resignation offer, while more than 1,000 Farm Service Agency and county office employees also said they’d depart, even though Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that their resignations wouldn’t be accepted, according to reporting from Politico.  

An additional 2,408 staffers are leaving the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the second round of deferred resignation offers, per the outlet.

The first opportunity for employees to willingly leave came on the heels of President Trump’s inauguration in January. 

USDA is currently made up of 29 agencies and offices with nearly 100,000 employees who serve at more than 4,500 locations across the country and abroad, according to the agency.

Earlier this year, 6,000 probationary staffers were fired but later ordered to be reinstated by a federal board. 

In February, USDA officials announced they were working to take back the termination notices sent to several employees who assist the federal response efforts to the bird flu (HPAI).

“Although several positions supporting HPAI were notified of their terminations over the weekend, we are working to swiftly rectify the situation and rescind those letters,” the USDA said in a statement to The Hill’s sister station at the time.

“USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service frontline positions are considered public safety positions, and we are continuing to hire the workforce necessary to ensure the safety and adequate supply of food to fulfill our statutory mission,” the statement continued.

The resignations come after USDA announced a $1 billion cut to local food programs sponsored by the department amid calls for White House officials to also help lower the cost of eggs.

Rollins, earlier this week, pledged to bring about a price drop in the coming weeks while boosting foreign agricultural opportunities. 

“It is going to be a new era of market expansion around the world, and our team is so committed to that,” Rollins said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Rollins added that she would be making visits to the U.K., Japan and Brazil over the next several months to open up trade to new countries as business with China is scaled back amid the Trump administration’s tariffs against that nation.

Filip Timotija contributed to this report.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

US Tariffs on European Goods Could Disrupt Major Global Trade Partnership

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) America’s largest trade partner, the European Union, is among…

Essential Boating Safety Tips for the Fourth of July Weekend

SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Boating is a popular way to observe Independence…

Aerial Footage Captures Severe Flooding in Kerrville, Texas

IE 11 is no longer supported. For the best experience, please visit…

Nearly 70 Dead in Central Texas Flash Floods; 11 Campers Still Missing, Authorities Report

KERRVILLE, Texas – The number of deaths resulting from the flash floods…

Tropical Storm Chantal Expected to Drench the Carolinas with Heavy Rain

Tropical Storm Chantal has developed off the southeastern coast of the U.S.…

Florida Leads the Nation in Lightning-Related Fatalities

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Since 2006, almost 500 people have been killed by…

Expectant Sea Turtle Enjoys a Swim in Jupiter Island Pool

JUPITER ISLAND, Fla. (WFLA) — A large sea turtle got a little…

Texas Flood Disaster: Nearly 70 Fatalities, 11 Girls Still Missing from Camp

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — The number of fatalities caused by flash floods…

dispute Over Jimmy Buffett’s Estate Highlights Widow’s Inheritance as a Warning Tale

(The Conversation) – Lawyers frequently advise clients that it is crucial for…

Dog Rescued from Eaton Fire Gets a New Home

When firefighters battled the flames of the Eaton Fire earlier this year,…

“Texas Woman Shares Harrowing Tale of Surviving for Days in Tree After Flood Rescue”

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) A Texas woman says she and her family, after…

Tucker Carlson Speaks with Iranian President as MAGA Supporters Divided Over Iran-Israel Tensions

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson said Saturday he would soon air…