The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) admitted Tuesday that it mistakenly fired several employees who were actively working on the government’s response to the growing H5N1 bird flu outbreak. Now, the agency is racing to undo the error.
“Several positions supporting [bird flu efforts] were notified of their terminations over the weekend,” a USDA spokesperson said. “We are working to swiftly rectify the situation and rescind those letters.”
The mistake comes as the Trump administration, under the leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), continues aggressive budget cuts and mass layoffs across federal agencies. Many of these cuts are being carried out by Elon Musk, who has been tasked with downsizing government operations.
The timing of these layoffs couldn’t be worse. The bird flu has already devastated poultry farms, sending egg prices skyrocketing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 68 human cases in the U.S., further increasing public health concerns.
The USDA has been playing a crucial role in responding to the crisis, with agencies like the Agricultural Research Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service leading the charge. But now, key personnel from the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, which is directly involved in avian flu research, have been let go.
