The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the department’s second-largest agency, has lost nearly 2,400 employees (over 20% of its workforce) since January and expects further reductions due to a hiring freeze through at least October 15. The agency aims to cap staffing at December 2019 levels. After incentivizing departures through a deferred resignation program, NRCS is now asking remaining employees to transfer to “critical” vacancies, such as soil conservationist roles, to maintain mission-critical functions. This follows a similar move by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. A recent Supreme Court ruling lifted a block on USDA layoffs, allowing further workforce cuts. NRCS is also relocating employees from Washington, consolidating functions, and reducing office space to optimize efficiency. Employees are skeptical, citing low morale and no guarantees of job security, with transfers offering no pay retention, grade increases, or relocation cost coverage. Staff reductions are already straining operations, with fewer approvals for programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the loss of key expertise, such as GIS specialists, impacting the agency’s ability to manage its workload effectively.
https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/07/usda-asks-employees-transfer-critical-vacancies-suggests-more-cuts-coming/406763/
