Before he was sudden fired last month, Derek Copeland was a coach at the US Department of Agricultural Dog Training Center. That is invasive or vector for zoonotic diseases, like Pig flu. Copeland estimates that NDDTC has lost about part of his coach and some other support staff when 6,000 employees Go to USDA In February as part of a purge of the Government was coordinated by the Trump administration and The so -called effect of the Elon Musk Government (DOGE).
Before receiving the end of the notice, he said, Copeland spent a few months training the only dog ​​stationed in Florida capable of detecting a giant African snail, a soft -bodyed animal, causing a significant threat to Florida agriculture. We have dogs for spot flies and lanterns, Asian beetles, he said, referring to two other non -local species. I don't think the Americans realized how much people brought to the United States.
Dog coach is only an example of a highly specialized USDA employee who has been eliminated from their stations in recent weeks. Teams for the import and food import inspection have been particularly affected by recent cuts, including the factory's protection and quarantine program, which has lost hundreds of employees.
This is a problem that is contrary to and right, he said an existing USDA employee, who likes other federal employees in this story, is hidden for fear of revenge. Basically, this is a skeletal crew, he said another employee of the current USDA, who noted that both of them and most of their colleagues had high levels and had many years of training to protect the US food and agricultural supply chain from invasive species. This is not easy to replace with artificial intelligence.
These are not your ordinary people these are in -depth trained individuals, controllers, insects, and classifications.
Lahar and other supply chain experts warn that losses can cause food to rotten while waiting at ports and can lead to groceries higher, in addition to increasing the chances of invasive species that are likely to devastate the country. These dangers are especially harsh at a time water flu and President Trump New tariffs.
If we check less food, the first basic thing happens is that a number of foods that we do not check is likely to get worse. We will end the loss of resources, he said, the Veterans of the Supply Industry and Software Manager Joe Hudicka.
The reduction of USDA is being felt especially in coastal countries where large transport ports. USDA sources have estimated wired that Los Angeles port, one of the busiest people in the United States, lost about 35 % of the total number of security and quarantine staff of the factory and 60 % of their smuggling and interventions, who are tasked with preventing illegal pests and goods into the country. Miami Port, a large amount of imported factory imported in the United States, has lost about 35 % of the factory inspection.