Elon Musk Fired 6,000 Federal Employees Weeks Ago. Now, the U.S. Faces a Massive Influx of Invasive Species

Weeks ago, Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) he heads has one advantage over other agencies: iIts employees work 120 hours a week. While his statement sounds extreme, the results have been alarming. The grueling work pace has led to significant miscalculations, including massive layoffs and the dismantling of key programs. The latest fallout? Firing so many employees that the country’s health controls are now at risk.

Administrative errors. Wired analyzed the DOGE’s actions since its creation. In just a few weeks, the office accidentally leaked classified information, hastily fired and rehired nuclear safety experts, and misstated government “savings” by $7.992 billion.

According to Wired, these mistakes reflect a combination of technological hubris and a lack of understanding of how the government operates, with potentially disastrous consequences.

Food safety risks. The DOGE has conducted an unprecedented purge across several government agencies. However, the layoffs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) stand out for their severity. The downsizing has created a food safety and trade crisis, leaving the country vulnerable to invasive species and rising food prices.

The reason? The elimination of 6,000 jobs in February stripped the USDA of a significant portion of its highly trained staff, including inspectors, biologists, and sniffer dog trainers who protect U.S. agriculture from pests and zoonotic diseases. Derek Copeland, a former trainer at the National Dog Detection Training Center, warned that the staff reduction would weaken the ability to detect threats like the giant African land snail or the Asian long-horned beetle, which could devastate crops and local ecosystems.

A blow to inspection and biosecurity. The damage goes further. Phytosanitary and quarantine departments suffered some of the heaviest cuts, with the loss of hundreds of inspectors leading to a significant reduction in agricultural import controls. Experts say the staffing shortage has turned inspections into a chaotic and disorganized process, particularly at key ports like Los Angeles and Miami, where quarantine staff decreased by 35% and contraband detection equipment by up to 60%.

This situation has caused delays in processing goods, which could lead to higher supermarket prices and massive food waste as perishable items spoil while awaiting inspection.

Impact on business and trade. The fallout extends beyond agricultural safety. Mike Lahar, manager of regulatory affairs at customs brokerage company Deringer, said the lack of inspections could allow devastating pests and diseases to enter the country, with economic and national security implications.

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This is no trivial issue. A single failure to detect a pest could decimate entire crops, affecting farmers and the entire food supply chain. Additionally, the backlog of uninspected containers disrupts other industries by stranding shipments, reducing the availability of essential goods, and increasing costs for consumers and businesses.

Legal uncertainty. The Trump administration has defended the cuts as an efficiency measure, but the consequences have raised alarms. Republican senators like Joni Ernst, who previously supported the canine pest detection program, have avoided commenting on the layoffs.

Two federal judges have ordered the reinstatement of fired workers, but the White House has called these decisions “absurd and unconstitutional,” leaving thousands of employees in limbo. Meanwhile, the USDA announced a 45-day pause on layoffs but offered no guarantees of reinstatement for those affected.

Collapse of food security. If the crisis continues, experts warn of a potential pandemic-like scenario, with shortages of certain products and food inflation due to inadequate port controls.

Joe Hudicka, a supply chain industry veteran, predicts that large cities and supermarkets will better absorb the impact, but rural communities and small businesses will suffer the most. Meanwhile, Kit Johnson, director of trade compliance at John S. James, warns that reduced inspections could lead to an agricultural disaster if invasive species establish themselves undetected.

Privatization in disguise? According to Wired, experts offer two hypotheses to explain the DOGE disaster. The first is that the initiative was never intended to improve government efficiency but to dismantle agencies and pave the way for privatization while gaining access to sensitive government data. Under this logic, eliminating regulations and creating administrative chaos would make it easier for private companies to intervene in key sectors like defense, agriculture, and security.

The second hypothesis is that Musk and his team genuinely believe in their mission but lack the skills to execute it. This reflects Silicon Valley’s hubris, assuming that software expertise translates to managing government operations. In other words: Musk may excel in certain areas, but his performance as the “de facto CEO” of the government is nearing failure.

Consequences. The DOGE’s actions have not only undermined government efficiency but could also have long-term economic and geopolitical consequences. The layoffs have created unemployment and instability in key sectors, potentially triggering recessionary effects.

The decision to dismantle critical areas like the USDA has weakened food safety and agricultural protection at a time when the supply chain already faces challenges like bird flu and trade disputes with China. As ports begin to feel the effects of reduced inspections, concern grows among farmers, traders, and consumers. If the government doesn’t reverse course, the country could face an unprecedented agricultural crisis.

Image | Gage Skidmore | DJ Cockburn

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