What happened to food safety officers during the bird flu outbreak in the US?

Food safety and inspection officers from the Department of Agriculture, who were vital to the nation's bird flu response, were fired over the weekend precisely as the outbreak was intensifying across the US. These layoffs came at a critical time when their expertise was most needed to manage the escalating health crisis. The timing of these terminations had immediate economic consequences, driving up egg prices nationwide. The situation highlights the conflict between administrative decisions and public health necessities during an urgent national outbreak situation.