USDA probationary staff fired at three agencies, sources say

By Leah Douglas

(Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has fired probationary staff at two U.S. Department of Agriculture research agencies and its farm loan agency, three sources familiar with the situation said on Friday.

It was not immediately clear how many staff were affected by the firings, which the sources said occurred overnight.

A USDA spokesperson would not comment specifically on whether people were fired, but said the department was "optimizing operations, eliminating inefficiencies, and strengthening its ability to serve farmers, ranchers, and the agriculture community."

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement on Friday that the agency is "eliminating positions that are no longer necessary."

The Trump administration, led by Elon Musk's cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, has fired thousands of federal workers this week.

The affected research staff worked at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which supports agricultural science and technology research, and the Economic Research Service, which produces reports and data on the farm economy.

Also fired were probationary loan officers at the Farm Service Agency, which processes farm loans and administers other farm programs.

Nick Gioia, who had been working as a visual designer at ERS since December, said he received a termination letter from the agency late on Thursday and was shocked and heartbroken.

"I’ve done a lot for my country and as a veteran who served his country, I feel like I’ve been betrayed by my country," said Gioia, who served in the army and worked for the Department of Defense for a total of 17 years before joining the USDA.

He added that he suffers from PTSD and has a child with epilepsy, and does not know if his family still has medical insurance.

"The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest," said the letter sent to the fired employees, according to a copy seen by Reuters.

The letter said the employees have a right to file an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board. Trump attempted to fire the head of the board on Monday, who has sued to challenge the decision.

Gioia said he had no prior performance issues and planned to file an appeal.

Rollins said on Friday that DOGE has been operating at the agency for weeks and that she welcomes their reforms.

(Reporting by Leah Douglas; Editing by David Gregorio and Marguerita Choy)