12,000 USDA employees have allegedly agreed to the Trump administration’s buyout terms

More than 12,000 USDA employees may be leaving after accepting buyout offers from the Trump administration.

The numbers include 3,000 from the Forest Service and 1,200 from APHIS. This could amount to more than 10% of the department’s workforce.

The buyouts include paid leave until resignations take effect in September.

The Supreme Court recently allowed the administration to move forward with firing about 16,000 probationary federal workers, some from the USDA.

Related Stories
Duane Simpson, CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC), joined us in Monday’s Market Day Report to share his perspective on the USDA’s plan and potential impact on producers.
U.S. Farmers Navigate Harvest Pace, Costs, Policy Shifts
While treatable with a vaccine, anthrax is a dangerous threat to cattle herd health if not identified and treated immediately.
Smaller flocks and lower lay rates are pressuring table egg supplies, even as hatchery activity edges higher.
Smaller slaughter numbers across beef and pork signal tighter supplies into late 2025, while record-low veal production highlights ongoing structural changes in the sector.