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Kansas Cattlemen CEO not too concerned about USDA layoffs at NBAF

The CEO of the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association says he doesn’t expect recent layoffs within USDA’s National Bio and Agro Defense Facility (NBAF) to disrupt day-to-day operations.

Matthew Steele tells Brownfield not much has been released publicly about the layoffs.

“My understanding was there were some folks that were working with high path that they reassigned. But with some of that stuff within NBAF, some of it’s just high enough security level, they aren’t releasing everything.”

Last week, a USDA spokesperson confirmed about a dozen, primarily administrative employees, had been fired from the biosafety level 4 research laboratory in Manhattan, Kansas. Steele says he’s optimistic about the direction the Trump administration is taking within USDA.  

“Whether you agree with cuts or not, it’s still a good thing to kind of audit the system and see where we’re at, because if we’re over or under spending in any location, it’s good to know that and try and make those adjustments,” he says.

Steele says biosecurity at the facility remains the top concern for Kansas Cattlemen. The lab was designed to combat biological threats involving human, zoonotic, and foreign animal diseases.

Matthew Steele, Kansas Cattlemen’s Association