Trump Administration’s Cuts Endanger Plant and Animal Health in the US

Introduction: Sweeping Cuts to Critical Agencies

Shortly after President Trump’s second inauguration, the administration launched a series of deep cuts to federal agencies and programs critical to human, plant, and animal health. These reductions included slashing funding for medical research, halting global health aid, and firing hundreds of employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the campaign to downsize government—led by Trump and figures like Elon Musk—has also devastated programs dedicated to protecting plant and animal health. Recent mass firings have hit federal workers responding to the nation’s growing bird flu outbreak, safeguarding crops from pests, and ensuring the safety of pet food and medicine. While some of these firings have since been rescinded, the damage to these critical programs may be long-lasting, with experts warning of far-reaching consequences for trade, food security, and the nation’s ability to address future threats to plant and animal health.

Plant and Animal Inspectors: A Critical Workforce Gutted

The most recent wave of firings targeted roughly 200,000 federal employees in probationary periods, who had fewer job protections due to their relatively new status. While the exact number of termination remains unclear, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reportedly lost thousands of employees, including key staff in its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The plant protection and quarantine program within APHIS was particularly hard hit, losing over 200 employees, including agricultural inspectors, entomologists, taxonomists, and even tree climbers who monitored for pests. These workers played a vital role in combating invasive insects like the Asian long-horned beetle and ensuring that agricultural products entering and exiting the country were free of pests and pathogens.

The firings have already caused import delays at U.S. ports, and over time, the lack of oversight could lead to the spread of agricultural pests and pathogens, threatening food security and damaging the reputation of American products abroad. As one USDA official warned, “If the United States gets a reputation for having dirty products, does that mean other countries will also step in and say, ‘Hey, we don’t want to buy your goods?’” The cuts have left the nation’s agricultural system vulnerable to threats that could have devastating economic and environmental consequences.

Agricultural Scientists: Research Halted, Futures Uncertain

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the USDA’s in-house scientific agency, was also severely impacted, with roughly 800 employees fired, including lab leaders. These terminations brought critical research projects to an abrupt halt, leaving technicians and students in limbo. For instance, a New York lab investigating a potential outbreak of late blight—a potato disease—was forced to shut down after its lead scientist was fired. Potato samples from a large commercial farm remain untouched and untested, raising concerns about the long-term consequences of such disruptions.

Similarly, scientists and statisticians at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Nebraska, which studies livestock genetics and food safety, were terminated. The firings drew objections from Nebraska’s Republican congressional delegation and industry groups, who argued that the research being conducted at the center was essential for improving food safety and reducing costs for the beef industry. While some scientists were later reinstated, the mass firings have done significant reputational damage to the agency and raised concerns about its ability to attract and retain top talent in the future.

Animal Health Regulators: Safeguarding Against Zoonotic Diseases

The CDC, while primarily focused on human health, also plays a crucial role in preventing zoonotic diseases—those that can spread from animals to humans. The agency regulates the entry of animals that may carry pathogens, such as dogs from rabies-prone countries, and inspects animals at ports. However, the Trump administration recently fired about half of the CDC employees at its 20 port health stations, leaving some stations entirely unattended. Calls to the San Juan, Puerto Rico, station were rerouted to Miami, where a CDC employee confirmed that no one would be at the post “for a very long time.”

Similar cuts were made at the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine, where employees reviewing data on novel animal medicines and ensuring the safety of pet food and animal feed were terminated. These teams were already understaffed, and the firings have raised concerns about the approval of new animal drugs and the potential for dangerous products to go unnoticed. As one fired employee noted, the losses represent “a gap in the safety structure” that could have serious consequences for public and animal health.

Graduate Students and Early-Career Scientists: A Future in Jeopardy

The recent wave of firings has also had a profound impact on graduate students and early-career scientists who were considering careers in federal research. Many of these students had invested significant time and effort into their education and training, only to see their opportunities evaporate. For example, Isako Di Tomassi, a Cornell University graduate student who worked in a lab that was shut down due to the firings, expressed her uncertainty about the future. “My future as a scientist seems very uncertain right now,” she said. “Getting a federal scientist position is a big deal. It’s not easy to do, and all of that investment is now being let go.”

Other graduate students echoed her concerns, stating that the mass firings have led them to reconsider careers in the federal government. This exodus of young talent could have long-term consequences for the nation’s scientific workforce, as fewer qualified individuals may be willing to pursue careers in public service. The loss of these early-career scientists not only undermines the current research being conducted but also jeopardizes the future of scientific innovation and progress in the United States.

Conclusion: Lasting Damage to Food Security and Health

The Trump administration’s campaign to downsize government has left federal agencies tasked with protecting plant and animal health in shambles. From plant inspectors to veterinarians, and from agricultural scientists to early-career researchers, the workforce has been decimated. The consequences of these cuts are far-reaching, with import delays, food safety risks, and the potential for uncontrolled outbreaks of diseases and pests.

Current employees, spared from the recent firings, are now eyeing the exits, and graduate students are reconsidering their career paths. The long-term damage to the nation’s ability to protect its food supply, ensure trade security, and address future threats to plant and animal health is incalculable. As John Ternest, a former USDA employee, ominously noted, “We don’t know what we’ve lost until it’s potentially too late.” The administration’s actions have created a void that may take years—if not decades—to fill, leaving the United States unprepared to face the challenges of the future.