Merkley Warns Of Food Safety Threats

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley is warning that USDA staffing cuts could weaken the nation's ability to respond to food safety threats and livestock diseases. Merkley joined Senate Democrats in urging the Administration to restore staffing at key USDA agencies responsible for food inspections, animal health, and agricultural security.

Issues Nationwide And In Oregon

“Unfortunately, we continue to hear about the harmful impacts of the significant staffing reductions at APHIS, FSIS, and AMS due to retirements and other resignations which affected both national and local staff," the senators wrote to Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins and Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden. "APHIS, for example, began 2025 with employees stationed in 1374 counties. By year’s end, headcount had fallen to zero in 241 of those counties, depriving farmers, ranchers, and producers of their localized federal resources and access to USDA’s expertise. In Multnomah County, Oregon, 20% of local APHIS staff were lost in 2025, and the county lost 2 of its 5 food safety staff; Crook County now has no food safety staff at all. Further, by the end of 2025, 59 US counties no longer had a FSIS veterinarian stationed locally. AMS too has seen significant reductions across key grading, market news, and other functions. This phenomenon is not unique to Oregon and the nationwide loss of these resources and functions threaten America’s ability to respond to emerging challenges."

Our Food Supply Needs To Be Protected

The letter went on to highlight the importance of having senior career officials at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. and cited the potential for further staffing losses that could harm the agencies’ ability to respond to crises.

“In crises, these agencies have vital roles to play in the interagency coordination of national security and public health functions,” the senators emphasized. “Indeed, when hantavirus, New World screwworm, or e-coli hits our shores or our shelves, nothing replaces getting in the room physically with the leadership of other federal agencies— including the Food and Drug Administration, the Homeland Security Department, and the Defense Department—to effectively protect our nation’s food supply and public health."

The warning comes as officials respond to the first detection of New World screwworm in the United States in 60 years. Merkley says maintaining USDA staffing is critical to protecting farmers, ranchers, and the nation's food supply.

Click Here to read the entire letter.