Reviving Hope: Agriculture Department Seeks to Rehire Workers Affected by Bird Flu Response

OMAHA, Neb. — The Agriculture Department is trying to rehire some workers who helped tackle the ongoing bird flu outbreak. This outbreak has severely affected egg and poultry farms over the last three years.

These workers were let go following recommendations from a federal efficiency initiative led by Elon Musk, aimed at streamlining the government. Critics, like Republican Rep. Don Bacon, argue that such cuts should be made more carefully, especially when critical roles are at stake.

Since the bird flu outbreak started in 2022, about 160 million birds have been culled to manage the virus. Most of these were egg-laying chickens, which has contributed to soaring egg prices, with costs peaking at an average of $4.95 per dozen. The government has allocated nearly $2 billion to address this crisis, including $1.2 billion in compensation for farmers losing their birds.

A spokesperson for the USDA stated that while they are prioritizing their response to the bird flu, some workers from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service were let go. This group is responsible for overseeing the national network of labs that confirm cases of bird flu and other animal diseases. Although some positions were eliminated, urgent roles like veterinarians and emergency response staff were protected from the cuts.

In response to the recent job cuts, the USDA is working quickly to rescind termination letters sent to staff. However, the exact number of positions that will be reinstated and the specific locations affected remain unclear.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar emphasized the urgency of rehiring these crucial employees, especially as higher prices affect the public and farmers continue to deal with the consequences of the outbreak.

The Trump administration also hinted at potential changes in how they address the bird flu outbreak, suggesting that entire flocks may not always need to be culled if the disease is detected. However, details of this new approach have yet to be clarified.