More than a dozen recently fired USDA employees told Investigate Midwest that mass terminations have stalled irrigation projects, rural housing aid and efforts to combat invasive crop diseases. Remaining staff are overwhelmed; farmers may not receive much needed timely help, former staff say.
Farmers invested in federally-backed programs now worry about delays, rising costs, and financial uncertainty, with critical infrastructure projects, conservation efforts, and climate disaster relief funding left in limbo.
