NRCS loses nearly 25% of staff following U.S. federal workforce cuts

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, lost nearly a quarter of its staff nationwide in 2025 following sweeping federal workforce cuts under the Trump administration.

NRCS staff provide essential technical assistance and grant funding to help farmers implement practices that prevent soil erosion and improve soil health. These efforts, which include planting trees to protect land from wind and heavy rain, were originally established in response to the Dust Bowl.

The reduction in personnel has left many farmers with diminished access to environmental conservation expertise and the resources necessary to maintain sustainable agricultural practices.