Bird Flu Surges as USDA Loses Hundreds of Veterinarians Amid Federal Staff Cuts

May 14

As the U.S. grapples with its longest bird flu outbreak in history, critical staff losses at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are raising alarms about the country’s ability to respond to current and future animal disease threats.

Under the current administration’s aggressive push to shrink the federal workforce, more than 15,000 USDA employees—roughly 15% of the agency—have resigned. Among the hardest-hit divisions is the Veterinary Services branch of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), responsible for monitoring, testing, and managing animal disease outbreaks.

A Shrinking Safety Net

According to internal data reviewed by Reuters and multiple state officials:

400 Veterinary Services staff, including veterinarians, lab techs, and support personnel, have left—over 20% of the division.
13 of 23 area veterinarians, who coordinate federal veterinary efforts across states, have departed.
Some USDA labs, including one focused on bird flu, have lost 20–30% of their workforce.

The losses are creating delays in disease response, diagnostics, and regulatory enforcement, as well as impacting the ability to compensate farmers for culled animals and implement containment strategies.

“This could result in slower response times and less responsiveness to local veterinary needs,” warned Kansas animal health commissioner Justin Smith.

A Vulnerable Moment for Public Health

This downsizing comes at a precarious time:

Bird flu continues to infect poultry and dairy herds, disrupting food supply chains and leading to record egg prices.
The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, has reemerged in livestock just across the border in Mexico.
70 people—primarily farm workers—have contracted bird flu since 2024, raising concerns about potential human transmission.

Veterinary experts are deeply concerned about the USDA’s ability to contain such threats.

“The federal government won’t have the number of people to help out the states,” said Dr. Beth Thompson, South Dakota’s state veterinarian. “It’s a big deal.”

Local Impact, National Consequences

In states like New Mexico, state workers are already assuming USDA roles once held by federal support staff. “We won’t know the full impacts of these changes immediately,” said Dr. Samantha Holeck, New Mexico’s state veterinarian. “The important thing is that we work together as a team through all of these challenges.”

Other ripple effects include:

Budget delays requiring purchases over $10,000 to be approved by a newly created “Department of Government Efficiency,” reportedly under Elon Musk’s leadership, causing up to four-week delays in lab operations.
Nearly half of APHIS’ legislative affairs team has left, limiting communication with Congress and stakeholders about high-stakes issues like bird flu.

The USDA declined to comment on the staff reductions or their impact.

As animal disease threats grow more complex and global, experts warn that reducing the veterinary workforce may leave the U.S. underprepared and underprotected in the face of future outbreaks.