Approximately 15% of the USDA’s workforce, including those in the Farm Service Agency (FSA), National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), have accepted financial incentives to leave the agency. During the first round in February, 3,877 staff signed deferred resignation contracts. The second round in April attracted another 11,305 signatures. These numbers were confirmed by a USDA spokesman.

The employees were offered several months of pay and benefits if they opted to leave their jobs as part of an effort to shrink the federal workforce. The overall numbers could rise even higher. Employees over 40 were given more time to decide whether to leave. Some who opted to leave have not yet signed the contract.

The FSA, which directly serves farmers in offices across the country, is losing 674 employees. The NRCS, which provides technical assistance to farmers and manages working land conservation programs, is shedding 2,408 employees. FSIS is cutting 555 employees and APHIS is eliminating 1,377 employees.

In addition, fifty-three positions have been exempted from an ongoing federal hiring freeze. These include wildland firefighters, veterinarians and food safety inspectors. This move is intended to ensure critical USDA functions continue.

Read more about the USDA staff reductions here.