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Jun. 8, 2026 by Dr. Rebecca Schewe, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and Bernie Kluger, Prospect Partners, LLC The past sixteen months have seen an unprecedented staffing crisis unfurl across the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This paper offers an expanded look at the depth and breadth of that ongoing staffing crisis using previously unpublished data on Farm Service Agency (FSA) County employee cuts, as well as updates on previously reported nationwide cuts to staff across other USDA agencies. Through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, the authors have confirmed that over one third of FSA local offices with FSA County employees at the beginning of 2025 experienced a net loss of staff by year's end, with 42 offices ending the year with no FSA County employees. Losses of FSA County employees compound previously reported cuts to locally stationed federal employees of the Farm Service Administration and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) who also provide direct support to America's farmers and ranchers. Further analysis of federal personnel data from the US Office of Personnel Management confirms widespread headcount reductions across all USDA agencies, with the exception of staffing increases in the immediate office of the Agriculture Secretary, which grew by 18% in 2025. Farmer Serving Agencies Were Not Spared While every USDA agency lost staff, staff losses in direct farmer-facing service offices are particularly concerning as farmers face an ongoing crisis of economic and natural disasters. Staff in the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) work directly with farmers providing technical assistance, financial support, and guidance to navigate the complex web of government programs. Losses in these direct farmer-serving agencies means that US farmers, ranchers, and landowners have fewer experts in their communities to turn to for assistance. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Data Reveals Losses to FSA County Staff USDA reduced the number of front line staff at the US Farm Service Agency (FSA) by 8% in 2025, according to data recently obtained through the authors' Freedom of Information Act Request. Over one third of FSA local offices lost FSA County employees by year's end, with 42 offices ending 2025 with no FSA County staff. Cuts to FSA County staff were USDA's largest termination of community presence in over a decade. These findings build on federal data released in March 2026 showing widespread loss of FSA Federal personnel in 2025. To read the entire report click here. Tweet |
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