The USDA has found itself in an unexpected crisis after a series of federal workforce reductions inadvertently led to the dismissal of employees critical to managing the ongoing avian flu outbreak. The firings, which affected staff within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), were part of a broader effort to streamline federal agencies under recommendations from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a government advisory body chaired by Elon Musk.

However, the cuts included veterinarians, animal health specialists, and emergency response personnel—positions vital to controlling the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak, which has devastated the U.S. poultry industry since 2022. The disease has resulted in the culling of approximately 160 million birds, predominantly egg-laying hens, leading to soaring egg prices that have now reached an average of $4.95 per dozen.

Following the realization of these unintended terminations, the USDA has announced emergency efforts to reinstate the affected employees. A spokesperson for the department confirmed that the agency is working to rescind termination notices and ensure that disease management efforts are not further disrupted.

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Agriculture Department tries to rehire fired workers tied to bird flu response