(Washington D.C.) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins met with members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters on Tuesday morning in the nation’s capital. Rollins emphasized that during the first 100 days of the administration, the USDA has been laser-focused on executing President Trump’s bold policy agenda.
She highlighted several areas of progress, including the recent decline in egg prices following the rollout of the Avian Influenza Plan. Rollins also noted continued pressure on the Mexican government for failing to cooperate on addressing the threat of the new world screw worm and for not fulfilling obligations under the 1944 water treaty.
In response to a question about potential rightsizing or downsizing at the USDA, Rollins stated that the department plans to unveil its new reorganization plan as early as next week.
Addressing concerns about a possible “brain drain” at the USDA, Rollins reported that around 15,000 employees have taken part in the deferred resignation program. For context, the USDA employs approximately 106,000 people and typically sees about 6,000 departures annually due to attrition.
Rollins reaffirmed that farmers and ranchers remain a top priority for the department. She underscored the importance of strong staffing levels, noting the significant efforts made to ensure that front-line agencies such as the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are not only fully staffed but better staffed than before. Another priority, she said, is the wildland firefighting force within the U.S. Forest Service. Rollins also clarified that no applicants from the deferred resignation program have been accepted into the FSA or the Forest Service’s wildland fire division.
