Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar responded to a newly released report from the USDA Office of Inspector General (OIG) detailing significant staffing losses across key USDA agencies. Klobuchar, who requested the report in March, warned that the reductions threaten the Department’s ability to serve farmers, respond to agricultural threats, and support rural communities.
According to the OIG, USDA lost 20,306 employees between January 12 and June 14, 2025 — a nearly 20% reduction in total staff. The report found that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) lost 25% of its workforce, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) lost 23%, and the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Business Center lost 33%. The Forest Service lost nearly 6,000 employees (16%), and Rural Development saw a 36% reduction. In Minnesota alone, 481 USDA positions were lost, representing a 19% decline.
Klobuchar emphasized that these losses undermine USDA’s capacity to manage animal disease outbreaks, protect food supply chains, and support rural economic development. She called for urgent attention to rebuilding the Department’s workforce to meet the needs of farmers and rural Americans facing growing uncertainty.