USDA faces potential staff reductions, office shutdowns, and abolition of programs at the White House's behest

The Trump administration has proposed significant cuts to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), a move that has sparked controversy and concern among farmers, conservationists, and lawmakers.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) calls these cuts "difficult decisions" necessary to reach the proposed spending level. The USDA is planning to gut its Washington headquarters, consolidate mission areas, and relocate some staff to new "hubs" around the country. This consolidation could lead to office closures at the county level, potentially resulting in layoffs of county employees at USDA.

The proposed funding cuts would affect research and conservation efforts, trim program budgets nearly across the board, and reduce staff. For instance, the Farm Services Agency (FSA) is expected to experience a 22% reduction in salaries and expenses as it modernizes the customer experience and implements a smaller footprint of FSA county offices.

The USDA Secretary who supported the announced budget cuts for the Department of Agriculture is Brooke Rollins. She has called the agencies in question, along with the Risk Management Agency, "the most farmer-facing mission area at USDA," which "producers rely on every day." However, Zachary Ducheneaux, former FSA administrator, compares the Trump administration's approach to a beef cattle producer starving his cows to boost efficiency, and criticizes the plan as short-sighted.

Some of the cuts would be offset elsewhere in the budget, according to the OMB. For example, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) would slash funding for its Private Lands Conservation Operations by $773 million, but the OMB suggests that savings from upcoming layoffs at USDA, including those at the FSA and NRCS, would offset some of these cuts.

The elimination of forest and rangeland research as currently conducted by the U.S. Forest Service is also being considered. Additionally, the Trump administration is looking to eliminate a program that provides funding to help prevent and fight wildfires.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., criticizes the proposed cuts and program eliminations as a "one-two punch" that will "pull the rug out on our farmers and rural communities." She fears that farmers who do not have private sector options will wait longer for federal loans, and federal personnel will miss deadlines due to staff cuts.

The OMB document assumes savings from upcoming layoffs at USDA, including those at the FSA and NRCS. However, the 16,000 employees who have already accepted the department's "deferred resignation" offers could potentially mitigate the impact of the cuts.

These proposed budget cuts have sparked heated debates, with supporters arguing for increased efficiency and reduced spending, and critics warning of potential harm to farmers, rural communities, and conservation efforts. The future of these programs remains uncertain as the USDA moves forward with its reorganization and budget reduction plans.

USDA faces potential staff reductions, office shutdowns, and abolition of programs at the White House's behest