Agriculture Department Tries to Rehire Fired Workers Tied to Bird Flu Response
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Agriculture Department is in a race against time to rehire several essential workers who played a crucial role in managing the ongoing bird flu outbreak, which has wreaked havoc on egg and poultry farms over the past three years.
Background of the Situation
These workers were part of the thousands of federal employees who faced layoffs due to recommendations from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. This initiative aims to fulfill former President Trump’s vision of streamlining the federal government.
Concern from Lawmakers
Republican Representative Don Bacon expressed concern over the cuts, emphasizing the need for careful decision-making in personnel reductions. He stated, “While President Trump is fulfilling his promise to shed light on waste, fraud, and abuse in government, DOGE needs to measure twice and cut once. Downsizing decisions must be narrowly tailored to preserve critical missions.”
The Impact of Bird Flu
The bird flu outbreak has led to the slaughter of approximately 160 million birds since 2022, significantly impacting the poultry industry. Consequently, egg prices have surged to an all-time high of ₹400 (approximately $4.95) per dozen, with the federal government investing nearly $2 billion in response efforts, including compensation for farmers.
USDA’s Response and Future Plans
A USDA spokesperson confirmed that while key roles such as veterinarians and animal health technicians were spared from cuts, some positions within the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service were not. “Although several APHIS positions supporting HPAI were notified of their terminations over the weekend, we are working to swiftly rectify the situation and rescind those letters,” the spokesperson stated.
Reports indicate that the eliminated jobs were linked to overseeing the national network of labs essential for confirming bird flu cases. Although the exact number of rehired workers is unclear, the USDA is actively working on a revised approach to manage the bird flu outbreak without resorting to mass culling of flocks.
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