In a recent turn of events, the USDA acknowledged that it mistakenly fired several officials involved in the bird flu response efforts during a recent purge initiated by the Trump administration. This has led to a swift effort to rehire key personnel who were crucial in managing the H5N1 avian flu outbreak. The firings have sparked significant criticism and concern about the impact on food safety and animal health surveillance. Reports indicate that the USDA is working to rectify these layoffs quickly, with officials stating that the terminations were an accidental oversight. As the agency races to bring back these experts, it faces scrutiny over the broader implications of such abrupt staffing changes.