In February, the USDA terminated about 6,000 jobs. Following a judge’s order, many employees have been reinstated, but the Trump administration is moving forward with plans to reduce the federal workforce.
March 25, 2025
by Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
Following judges’ orders, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun reinstating employees who were fired en masse in February. But now, many of those workers who are being paid not to perform any duties fear that another shoe will drop.
The uncertainty over their futures comes as Elon Musk and the Trump administration chainsaw the federal workforce. Judges have ruled the mass terminations were unlawful, but the administration is moving forward with plans to reduce headcount at agencies across the federal government.
The Trump administration has argued the federal bureaucracy is wasteful and corrupt, sentiments echoed by new Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The roughly 6,000 USDA employees fired in February worked on a range of issues that keep America’s food system secure, from battling invasive crop diseases to funding the construction of sewer systems in rural areas.
On Feb. 13, the USDA began firing employees who were on probation, meaning they had less than a year, or in some cases, less than three years, of experience. Soon after, an anonymous worker filed a complaint with the Merit Systems Protection Board, which adjudicates federal employment disputes.
On March 5, the board issued a 45-day stay and ordered probationary employees return to work. The stay ends April 18.
That’s just days after a deadline the administration has imposed on departments to submit detailed reduction-in-force plans to the White House. The plans need to achieve a “significant reduction” in employees that “are not required,” according to an administration memo.
As the end of the 45-day stay draws near, USDA employees worry they could be fired again and are exploring other options, according to interviews with several employees who requested anonymity to protect their career prospects. Investigate Midwest is also withholding their roles at the department.
This month, calls went out to probationary employees asking them if they wanted their jobs back.
During one such call, an employee responded yes but added they were looking for other jobs. The manager replied that it was a good idea.
While they wait to hear the department’s plans, employees have received back pay and placed on administrative leave with pay. They could return to work as soon as late March or early April.
With that timeline, likely thousands of USDA employees could receive paychecks for six weeks or more for not actually performing their duties.
“This is all a huge waste of taxpayers’ money,” one employee said.
While many are discontent with the administration’s actions, some USDA employees agree with the moves. One told Investigate Midwest it was just “growing pains.”
The USDA did not respond to a request for comment. It did not answer when asked how many employees were recently reinstated.
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