Trump administration’s deep cuts to USDA and CDC spark concerns over food and animal safety

The Trump administration’s aggressive cost-cutting measures have led to mass layoffs across federal agencies responsible for food security, plant and animal health, and zoonotic disease prevention. The firings, hiring freezes, and budget cuts have left critical programs understaffed, raising concerns over the nation’s ability to respond to emerging threats such as the bird flu outbreak, according to The New York Times.

Key agencies hit by layoffs

Thousands of workers have been dismissed from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), including roughly 400 employees from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which monitors agricultural pests and diseases. The plant protection and quarantine program was particularly affected, losing over 200 specialists, as reported by The New York Times.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also suffered significant staff reductions, with half of its port health officers dismissed. The cuts have led to delays in import inspections and raised concerns about food safety and trade.

Bird flu response disrupted

The USDA’s veterinary services program, a key component of the nation’s livestock disease control, was also affected. Some of the fired employees had been leading efforts to combat the bird flu outbreak, but after backlash, the administration quietly reinstated some positions, suggesting their termination may have been a mistake, according to The New York Times.

Scientific research and food safety impacted

The layoffs also disrupted crucial agricultural research, with 800 scientists fired from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, halting projects on food safety, crop diseases, and livestock genetics. One New York lab investigating a potential potato disease outbreak was shut down mid-research, The New York Times reported.

With fewer agricultural inspectors at ports, the risk of pests infiltrating American crops has risen. Experts warn that foreign markets may refuse US agricultural products if contamination concerns grow.

The Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to the USDA, CDC, and other agencies have created uncertainty over food security, trade, and public health. While some firings have been reversed, the hiring freeze and funding reductions continue to threaten critical programs. The long-term effects on scientific research and disease control remain unclear, as reported by The New York Times.