Former USDA worker says layoffs hurt Wyoming agriculture

Yahoo

01-03-2025

CHEYENNE – As cuts are made across the federal government, farmers in Wyoming have been left with some uncertainties related to the work of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
On Feb. 12, Hannah (who asked that we not disclose her last name out of fear of retribution), a former USDA employee living in Wyoming, was assured by her colleagues that the agency would be safe from massive cuts being made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
On the evening of Feb. 14, Hannah joined the thousands of workers across the country to be laid off in a 'Valentine's Day massacre.'
'People are really struggling,' Hannah told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. 'It's been a shock. I don't know what my next steps are.'
Hannah was lucky to have some savings to lean on. Some of her peers who were fired have had to re-evaluate offers made on homes or how they will take care of newborn children.
While she isn't trying to back out of a down payment on a house, Hannah will likely have to leave the state to find work.
'We've loved living in Wyoming,' Hannah said. 'I thought this job would mean that I could stay in Wyoming and continue working with Wyoming farmers, which I'm really passionate about. And with these firings, I just don't see us being able to stay in Wyoming.'
She and her peers were let go for 'poor performance,' even though Hannah had not even had a formal performance review yet and received a letter on Feb. 17 praising her high performance.
Leaving farmers vulnerable
Like many federal workers, Hannah chose to pursue a career with the USDA because of her passion for supporting local farmers. With her doctorate in soil sciences, she easily could have gotten a job in the private sector; instead, she chose to work with local farmers.
Though she is currently dealing with the shock of being fired, Hannah's concerns extend beyond herself and to the farmers with whom she previously served.
'These farmers are extremely vulnerable to things like drought, hail, high winds,' she told the WTE. 'And they really rely on government programs to stay afloat.'
The USDA uniquely offers research and support programs for Western farmers that private companies, like Monsanto and Bayer, won't, simply because of location, according to Hannah. Instead, private companies focus on large corporate farms in less drought-prone areas, like the Midwest.
'There's really nobody else giving this sort of support to small farmers,' Hannah said. 'Almost all of the farmers I work with, which are pretty much all smaller family farms, rely on some form of government assistance.'
Should the new administration follow Project 2025 promises to reduce subsidy and insurance programs, local agriculture could be hit hard, according to Hannah.
'Some of (the administration's) stated goals are to cancel the Conservation Reserve Program and greatly reduce subsidized crop insurance,' Hannah said. 'Without those programs, I see a lot of small farmers going out of business.'
Released funds
When Hannah was fired, federal funds for these programs were frozen. However, newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has recently begun to release some of the funds following a review.
In a statement released on Feb. 20, Rollins stated that USDA will be 'releasing approximately $20 million in contracts for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQUIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.'
'American farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our nation,' Rollins said. 'They feed, fuel and clothe our nation — and millions of people around the world. The past four years have been among the most difficult for American agriculture, due in no small measure to (former President Joe) Biden's disastrous policies of overregulation, extreme environmental programs and crippling inflation.'
Rollins said the Biden administration had rushed out hundreds of millions of dollars in IRA funds, which were supposed to be distributed over eight years.
'After careful review, it is clear that some of this funding went to programs that had nothing to do with agriculture — that is why we are still reviewing — whereas other funding was directed to farmers and ranchers who have since made investments in these programs,' Rollins said. 'We will honor our commitments to American farmers and ranchers, and we will ensure they have the support they need to be the most competitive in the world.'
Rollins was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Feb. 13 by a vote of 72-28. She was a senior aide for President Donald Trump during his first administration, and was most recently president and CEO of the conservative think tank America First Policy Institute.
To soon to panic, local farmer says
Rollins' message has resonated with some local producers, including the owner and operator of Rabou Farms, Ron Rabou. Rabou lives and works in southeast Wyoming, one of the key areas for Hannah's previous work.
While Rabou empathized with those who had lost their jobs and acknowledged that virtually all farmers would be impacted by a reduction in subsidized crop insurance, he also stated that it's too soon to panic.
'I think that we have to let this process unfold," Rabou said. "And if there are programs that producers are noticing that have gone away, that are essential to their existence and their operation? They need to let their delegation know so that they can address that with the USDA.'
Rabou was part of a group of producers from across the nation who were recently able to speak with Rollins during a private conference.
'My personal conversations with the (congressional) delegation, and with Secretary Rollins herself, all indicate that farmers and ranchers are a major priority,' Rabou said. 'The Department of Agriculture, and certainly our delegation, wants to make sure that that remains a priority.'
For Rabou, a major overhaul for an organization can't happen overnight, and the only way to navigate it is to pay attention and speak with representatives about farmers' needs as programs are evaluated.
'I think that American farmers and ranchers can be confident in the fact that we have such a strong advocate that is leading the USDA,' Rabou said.
Support for Trump
Wyoming's representatives in Washington, D.C., echoed support for Trump's massive cuts.
'President Trump is right to rein in wasteful Washington spending and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal government,' U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., wrote in an email statement to the WTE. 'We need to cut wasteful and duplicative spending to protect American taxpayers.
'At the same time, we are working with the administration to make sure key personnel and programs, basic government functions, and public safety and health are not compromised. I am committed to ensuring any communities in Wyoming impacted by the proposed cuts have a seat at the table.
"I have made it my priority to make sure the administration knows how important it is to keep our national parks, forests and federal lands adequately staffed. I will continue to work with the Trump administration to make sure the right personnel and public safety officials, like our wildland firefighters, are protected and have a voice during this process.'
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis and Rep. Harriet Hageman, both R-Wyo., echoed support for the president's cuts made through DOGE, saying the efforts will save Wyoming taxpayer dollars.
Hard to rehire
Though Hannah said she would likely take her job back if offered it, the process is complex.
'It takes a lot of resources to hire these positions, and it often takes over a year to find a qualified candidate,' Hannah said. 'These positions often pay less than the private sector and require pretty specialized experience.'
Even if hiring freezes are lifted and funds are released, some damage has already been done, she said.
The USDA works on addressing drought, pests and herbicide-resistant weeds. This research into major issues in this region will likely not be taken over by the private sector, according to Hannah.
From Hannah's perspective, the loss of researchers and staff will cause a lot of good research in Wyoming to go to waste.
'Now that travel is restricted because we've lost resources and support staff, a lot of our research around Wyoming is going to suffer," Hannah said.
In spite of these concerns, Rollins and the USDA have reiterated that in order to support Trump's efforts to "optimize government," the termination of probationary employees was necessary.
"We have a solemn responsibility to be good stewards of Americans' hard-earned taxpayer dollars and to ensure that every dollar is being spent as effectively as possible to serve the people, not the bureaucracy," a statement from the USDA to the WTE read. "As part of this effort, USDA has released individuals in their probationary period of employment.
"Secretary Rollins understands the array of mission critical positions and programs at the Department, and she will ensure that those areas have the resources and personnel they need to continue serving the American people.'