USDA Lost 24,000 Workers Under Trump, Hurting Critical Resources for Farmers
February 24, 2026 | Source: KOSU.org | by Macy Byars
The U.S. Department of Agriculture saw some of the largest workforce reductions of any federal department as the Trump administration set out to downsize the government over the past year.
More than 24,000 people left the USDA since President Donald Trump took office last January, according to U.S. Office of Personnel Management data.
The department saw a nearly 27% reduction in its workforce from September 2024 to December 2025, according to data that’s presented by fiscal year.
The lost staffing means farmers are waiting longer for help applying for financial assistance or special project funds, said Nick Levendofsky, executive director of the Kansas Farmers Union.
“If you don’t have the folks that are there to do the work that’s needed to be done – whether that’s paperwork or following up with farmers on a project that they are wanting to do – then where do those farmers go for those services?” Levendofsky said.