USDA ARS EMPLOYEE LAYOFFS IMPACT PACIFIC NORTHWEST POTATO RESEARCHERS

Among the recent federal employee layoffs by the administration, scientists, technicians, and administrative staff were included from the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) that were on temporary, mandatory probation due to short time in service.  Affected USDA ARS facilities include Pacific Northwest laboratories that conduct potato pest, disease, and variety development research in Wapato, Washington, USDA ARS laboratories at the Washington State University campus in Prosser, Washington, and employees at a facility conducting potato variety development at the University of Idaho campus in Aberdeen, Idaho.  Layoffs of technical staff involved in variety development at Prosser, and particularly at Aberdeen, will be especially impactful given the recent retirements of Dr. Richard Novy, a well-regarded potato Geneticist, and his technical staff at the later facility.  These positions will likely not be filled soon, if at all.  USDA ARS was not the only agency experiencing massive layoffs that widely affected federal employees throughout the United States.