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Sen. Klobuchar raises staffing concerns as Sec. Rollins defends USDA’s reorganization
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins was questioned about the USDA’s reorganization during a U.S. Senate Ag Committee hearing on Wednesday.
Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said she’s concerned about staffing cuts amid recent detections of New World screwworm in the U.S.
“The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has lost 25 percent of its staff,” Klobuchar said, “including more than 300 employees in veterinary services alone since the (Trump) administration came in.”
Secretary Rollins said the agency has significantly increased the amount of APHIS employees working on the NWS issue.
“A year and a half ago there were 10 APHIS employees working full-time (on NWS),” Rollins said. “Now, we’ve got over 120.”
Klobuchar also said she’s alarmed by cuts to the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service.
“The department has already lost around 20 percent of its employees meaning fewer FSA staff to process farm loan and disaster aid applications,” Klobuchar said. “And fewer NRCS conservationists to help farmers adopt popular conservation practices.”
Rollins says the reorganization is aimed at reducing waste and moving the offices closer to producers.
“We’re prioritizing where the big threats are,” Rollins said, “as we’re working to ensure we’re meeting all of the needs across the country.”
Klobuchar says she’s asking the USDA to prioritize staffing local county offices and Agricultural Research Service labs to help farmers access services and tackle current issues.
Brooke Rollins has already had significant positive impact on the USDA. Everyone should read her bio to find out why she is the perfect choice to lead the Department – regional offices and research facilities makes more sense than one facility in high-cost DC. Efficient and responsive to state/regional issues and solutions.
Klobachar is not consistent with sound management practices for efficiency while still meeting the needs of farmers and the general public.