15,000 USDA employees resign amid major workforce restructuring
Approximately 15,000 employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have accepted resignation offers under a voluntary program initiated by the Trump administration, according to a USDA briefing shared with congressional staff, media reports said. The resignations amount to about 15% of the department’s total workforce and reflect a significant downsizing effort across various USDA agencies.
The program allows employees to resign while continuing to receive pay through September. In the first round in January, 3,877 workers signed up, followed by 11,305 in the second round. Additional resignations are possible as the USDA moves forward with its reduction-in-force plans targeting up to 30,000 job cuts.
Agencies impacted include the U.S. Forest Service, which saw over 4,000 departures, and the Food Safety and Inspection Service, where 555 employees resigned. Other affected departments include the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Food and Nutrition Service.
USDA spokesperson Seth Christensen cited previous staffing issues and budget concerns, while Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized a focus on streamlining operations. Despite a hiring freeze, 53 critical roles will still be filled for national security reasons. Some staff described a workplace environment marked by uncertainty and surveillance, contributing to their decisions to leave.
