The recent firing of key USDA officials has put the Biden administration in a tough spot. This comes as the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is trying to combat the bird flu, which is affecting poultry and dairy farms. The situation is further complicated by rising egg prices, which are expected to increase by another 20% this year due to the culling of millions of chickens.
A report from NBC revealed that staff members responsible for addressing the bird flu were let go due to instructions from Elon Musk’s DOGE team, only for the firings to be reversed after the need for those positions was clarified. The USDA confirmed that they are working quickly to restore the affected staff. “We are continuing to hire the workforce necessary to ensure the safety and adequate supply of food,” a spokesperson said.
Interestingly, these layoffs unfolded while a Trump advisor boasted about new strategies to tackle the bird flu crisis. It was reported that a significant portion of the staff in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network was affected, delaying testing for the virus in some cases.
Kevin Hassett, a former economic advisor, criticized the Biden administration’s reliance on mass culling as a solution, saying that the approach has resulted in billions spent on killing infected birds rather than implementing better safety measures. He indicated that the administration is merely following the same playbook as Trump’s era, where culling was a primary tactic in dealing with bird flu outbreaks.
Hassett made his remarks during a CBS News interview as the Biden administration grapples with various issues, including budgeting and potential cuts to social programs. The House GOP is pushing for significant budget reductions, wanting to cut two trillion dollars while still increasing defense and border security funding.
On the Republican side, some lawmakers expressed concern over the rapid layoffs initiated by the DOGE team. Don Bacon from Nebraska advised a more measured approach, suggesting that personnel changes should be carefully considered before acting. Senator Chuck Grassley echoed similar sentiments and noted that Congress feels somewhat helpless in influencing these decisions.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has proposed ensuring that the DOGE team does not target congressional funding in exchange for votes on budget measures, although the outcome of those negotiations remains uncertain. Meanwhile, USDA director Brooke Rollins stated that her team is looking at successful strategies from other countries to manage bird flu outbreaks, aiming to ensure that Americans have access to safe and plentiful food.
