Trump Administration Seeks to Reappoint Former USDA Officials Firing for Bird Flu Controversy
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The latest outbreak of avian influenza has caused significant disruption on poultry and cattle farms. In response, the administration of President Donald Trump is attempting to rehire officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) who were previously involved in managing bird flu but were subsequently laid off over the weekend. This round of layoffs was part of broader cost-cutting measures initiated by Trump and his new head of government efficiency, Elon Musk.
The terminations occurred amidst concerns raised by public health experts due to the impact on poultry farms, which have led to soaring egg prices and a shortage in supplies. A spokesperson for USDA told BBC that while several officials were informed of their layoffs over the weekend, efforts are underway to rescind these termination notices. They also emphasized that positions within USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service are deemed critical public safety roles, necessitating continued hiring to ensure food safety and adequate supply.
Avian influenza has been a persistent issue among American poultry flocks for years; however, last year the virus gained new ground by infecting dairy cows. This development resulted in dozens of human infections within close proximity to these animals. The most severe case was in Louisiana, where an individual became the first person to die from this strain of bird flu in the United States last month.
The outbreak has also escalated on poultry farms, prompting farmers to cull their chickens and exacerbating egg shortages, driving prices higher. To mitigate this crisis, the U.S. recently reached a deal with Turkey to purchase 15,000 tons of liquid eggs by Junes end. Ibrahim Afyon from Turkey’s Egg Producers Central Union confirmed that these supplies would be delivered in two batches.
The establishment of Doge and Musk’s initiative represents an attempt to reduce government spending on what Trump perceives as unnecessary expenditures. Public opinion supports this reduction in government expenditure, yet the USDA layoffs are not the first instance where employees have been terminated only to face attempts at rehire within days. Following firings from the National Nuclear Security Administration last week, there were reported efforts by the administration to reinstate some of those officials; however, they encountered difficulties reaching them.
In addition to these layoff initiatives, approximately 75,000 workers have accepted buyout offers and left voluntarily. Several Democratic states are challenging Trumps mass layoffs through lawsuits aimed at blocking Doge’s access to sensitive data as well. However, a US District Court rejected one of these challenges on Tuesday, arguing that the plaintiffs had failed to establish an imminent harm in their respective states.
Trump and Musk appeared on Fox News to defend the extensive cuts they are making across government agencies. Musk specifically defended Doge’s mission by claiming it was aimed at restoring “the will of the people through the president.” He also highlighted what he perceived as a lack of transparency within an unelected bureaucracy, asserting that his initiative would address these issues.
