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15,000 USDA EMPLOYEES HAVE RESIGNED FROM THE DEPARTMENT
May 5, 2025
POLITICO reports:
At least 15,000 Agriculture Department employees have taken the Trump administration's offers to resign, according to a readout of a USDA briefing with congressional staff that was shared with POLITICO. A USDA spokesperson confirmed the numbers.
The departures represent a drastic contraction of a department that handles a diverse portfolio including flagship federal nutrition programs, food safety, farm loans and rural broadband initiatives, your host reports.
Trump's deferred resignation program was much more popular the second time around, when probationary employees -- thousands of whom the administration previously tried to fire - were eligible.
While just 3,877 USDA employees signed up for the initial offer in January, 11,305 agreed to leave under the second round, with potentially more resignations to come.
Reaction: The School Nutrition Association (SNA) expressed worry that, given the departures, schools would struggle to implement new reductions in sodium and added sugar to school meals.
"SNA is concerned about if USDA has the staff and resources to support school nutrition professionals as they implement new regulations and new nutrition standards," said Diane Pratt-Heavner, a spokesperson for the association.
USDA comment: "President Biden and Secretary Vilsack left USDA in complete disarray, including hiring thousands of employees with no sustainable way to pay them," USDA spokesperson Seth Christensen wrote in a statement. "Secretary 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."
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