The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture experienced a 22% (-2657) loss of staff in 2025 as part of a government initiative to reduce the size of the overall federal workforce. In contrast with a USDA leadership pledge to “bring USDA closer to the people it serves,” personnel cuts have reduced federal presence in agricultural communities, potentially raising barriers to farm conservation program access.
Newly available federal workforce data shows that the majority of NRCS staffing reductions eliminated front-line positions tasked with assisting farmers, ranchers, and foresters with participation in conservation related grant programs. Nationwide, over 1300 counties and three territories experienced a net reduction of headcount in 2025, with 144 counties losing 100% of NRCS staff by year’s end.
Prospect Partners analysis of federal workforce data that the U.S. Office of Personnel released on March 4, 2026 (http://data.opm.gov) provides the public its first window into how USDA staffing reductions in 2025 reduced or eliminated local conservation expertise in hundreds of agricultural communities.
NRCS staffing reductions were concentrated in the federal agency’s three largest front-line conservation jobs:
- Soil Conservation: 694 counties lost staff, with 100% loss in 158 counties
- General Natural Resources Management: 380 counties lost staff, with 100% loss in 254 counties
- Soil Conservation Technician: 286 counties lost staff, with 100% loss in 255
Other significant NRCS staffing cuts in 2025 included Rangeland Management (100% loss in 43 counties representing one in four counties with that position at the start of 2025) and Civil Engineering (100% loss in 74 counties, representing one in five counties).
