As many as 1,400 workers at the Natural Resources Conservation Service have taken the Trump administration’s deferred resignation offer, with a heavy toll on managers, according to agency employees and people familiar with the situation.
“It’s beyond sad and messy for us here,” said one NRCS manager who took the buyout offer and requested anonymity to speak openly about the impacts.
“I was one of those 1,400 … just feeling way too likely that they would ship us out of D.C. or make severe cuts to HQ staff,” this employee said, referring to the likelihood of deep reduction at the Agriculture Department’s Washington headquarters.
The USDA didn’t comment on the number who’ve taken the offer but said in a statement that the totals are being finalized.
