USDA Rehires Key Bird Flu Response Staff After Mass Layoffs

The Trump administration's recent workforce cuts disrupted efforts to combat the H5N1 avian flu, which has killed millions of birds and raised public health and economic concerns.

The USDA is reversing recent layoffs of personnel critical to managing the H5N1 bird flu outbreak, citing the need to maintain food safety and disease control efforts.
Since 2022, the H5N1 avian flu has killed over 162 million birds in the U.S., contributing to record-high egg prices and significant losses for poultry and dairy farmers.
Three new human infections have been reported in recent days, bringing the total confirmed and probable U.S. cases since 2024 to 76, with one recent death linked to the virus last month.
Experts warn that federal workforce reductions, including accidental firings at the USDA, have weakened the government's ability to track and contain the outbreak effectively.
Economic impacts include soaring egg prices, forced culling of infected livestock, and financial strain on farmers, with limited government compensation for losses.