More than 15,000 of approximately 100,000 employees at USDA are preparing to leave the agency after accepting buyout offers that will allow them to keep being paid through the end of September, according to numbers shared with Agri-Pulse by a Capitol Hill source.

Among the hardest-hit agencies in the department: the Farm Service Agency, with 36% taking the buyouts, and Rural Development, with 33%. 

USDA briefed congressional staff on the status of the deferred resignation program, which had two stages, DRP 1.0 and DRP 2.0. In the first round, 3,877 employees took the buyout, while the second round has resulted in 11,305 signed contracts.

In a statement, a USDA spokesperson confirmed the overall numbers. "Secretary [Brooke] Rollins is working to reorient the department to be more effective and efficient at serving the American people, including by prioritizing farmers, ranchers, and producers. She will not compromise the critical work of the department."

The statement emphasized the "completely voluntary" DRP program, which many employees told Agri-Pulse they felt pressured to accept or risk being RIF'ed. 

The spokesperson said Rollins on April 22 issued a Secretarial Memorandum exempting national security and public safety positions from the current federal hiring freeze. "These 53 position classifications carry out functions that are critical to the safety and security of the American people, our national forests, the inspection and safety of the nation’s agriculture and food supply system. As the memo states, 'Food Security is National Security,' and Secretary Rollins will not compromise this critical work.”

USDA staff informed congressional staff that the numbers are likely to increase over the next month because employees more than 40 years old have been given more time to decide whether to accept the offer.

USDA also is reportedly looking to hire some workers for positions vacated by the departing staffers. NPR reported Saturday that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which saw 1,377 employees take the DRP’s, has told remaining employees that the agency needs to fill 73 “critical” positions, including scientists, budget analysts and a veterinarian.

APHIS had an estimated 8,486 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions in the current fiscal year. according to the department’s budget justification document. The number of employees with signed DRP contracts represents about 16% of the workforce.

Agri-Pulse pulled FTE estimates from each agency's FY2025 budget justification to determine approximately what percentage of their workforces took the buyout offer. 

Related Articles

Cut through the clutter! We deliver the news you need to stay informed about farm, food and rural issues. Sign up for a FREE month of Agri-Pulse here. 

The Farm Service Agency is losing 1,123 employees of 3,117, or 36%. Rural Development, which includes the Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service and the Rural Utilities Service, will lose 1,538 employees of about 4,670, or 33%. USDA just named state RD directors on Friday.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service stands to lose about 2,400 employees of 14,417, about 17%.

The DRP’s have led to the loss of significant numbers of scientific research personnel. At the Agricultural Research Service, for example, 1,255 staff took the buyouts, or nearly 20% of the 6,357 employees.

The numbers for the Economic Research Service are 78 of 329 (23.7%). At the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 54 of 422 took the buyouts (12.8%).

The Agricultural Marketing Service saw 469 of 3,408 employees take the buyouts, or 13.8% of the total workforce.

At the Forest Service, slightly more than 4,000 employees took advantage of the DRP’s, or about 11.9% of the total of 33,581 employees, according to the figures provided.

Other numbers:

  • Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services: 498 of 2,113 (23.6%)
  • Risk Management Agency: 61 of 418 (15%)
  • Foreign Agricultural Service: 105 of 815 (12.9%)
  • Food Safety and Inspection Service: 555 of 8,599 (6.4%)  

USDA officials have said a reorganization will be announced soon, which could include moving some functions out of Washington, D.C. That would likely cause more departures.

For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com.