The Trump administration has dismissed probationary staff from two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research agencies and its farm loan agency, sources said Friday. The exact number of affected employees remains unclear, but the firings reportedly took place overnight.
A USDA spokesperson declined to confirm the dismissals, stating only that the department is “optimizing operations, eliminating inefficiencies, and strengthening its ability to serve farmers, ranchers, and the agriculture community.” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the agency is removing “positions that are no longer necessary.”
The Trump administration, with cost-cutting efforts led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has terminated thousands of federal workers this week.
The affected staff worked at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which funds agricultural research, and the Economic Research Service, which analyzes the farm economy. Additionally, probationary loan officers at the Farm Service Agency were let go.
Nick Gioia, a visual designer at ERS since December, said he was shocked to receive a termination letter Thursday night. A veteran with 17 years at the Department of Defense, he felt betrayed. Gioia, who has PTSD and a child with epilepsy, is unsure if his family still has medical insurance.
The termination letter, seen by Reuters, cited performance concerns but offered employees the right to appeal. Trump attempted to fire the head of the Merit Systems Protection Board on Monday, who is now suing to challenge the decision.
Rollins confirmed DOGE has been working at the USDA for weeks and welcomed their reforms.
Also read: Rubio’s Flight to Munich Returns Due to Mechanical Issue
