U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, has commented on a recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General regarding staffing levels at the USDA. Klobuchar had requested this report in March.
In her statement, Klobuchar said: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture is the front door for America’s farmers and ranchers, who are facing more uncertainty than ever. Rural Americans need a Department that is ready and capable of serving them. Particularly shocking is that the agencies responsible for assisting farmers and small towns lost a third of employees; the Forest Service lost nearly 6,000 employees; and the agency responsible for managing animal disease outbreaks lost nearly a quarter of employees. Losing nearly twenty percent of all USDA staff weakens the Department’s ability to respond to challenges facing our farmers, leaves our food supply chains more vulnerable to threats like New World Screwworm and avian flu, and undermines efforts to drive the rural economy forward.”
According to findings in the Office of Inspector General's report, between January 12, 2025 and June 14, 2025, USDA lost 20,306 employees—an almost 20% reduction in total staff. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) saw a loss of 2,105 employees (25%), while the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) experienced a reduction of 1,647 employees (23%). The Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Business Center lost 531 workers (33%), the Forest Service had a decrease of 5,860 staff members (16%), and Rural Development was reduced by 1,745 employees (36%). In Minnesota specifically, there was a loss of 481 USDA employees during this period—representing about 19% of its workforce.
