Merkley, Salinas, Pacific Northwest Democrats to Secretary Rollins: Act Quickly to Hire Agricultural Research Staff Across the Region

Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led a group of their Pacific Northwest colleagues in pressing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins over her commitment to promptly fill critical staff positions that remain vacant at USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) units in Oregon and Washington.

At a hearing reviewing the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request for the USDA, Merkley secured a pledge from Secretary Rollins that the agency would move swiftly to address ARS staff vacancies across the region, supporting agricultural research that strengthens the nation's food security, bolsters rural economies, and benefits farmers, fishermen, and ranchers.

"…many USDA-ARS staff positions have remained vacant in Oregon and Washington for more than a year now, which impacts the broader research ecosystem and hinders the vital work of ARS. The loss of ARS staff over the past year and a half has undermined years-long research efforts and left significant knowledge gaps in highly specialized scientific areas. These terminations eliminate crucial expertise and fracture longstanding partnerships that drive agricultural innovation," the group of Pacific Northwest lawmakers wrote to Secretary Rollins. "Additionally, the loss of researchers' support staff, security officers, and lab technicians, administrative officers, and post-doctoral researchers has left the few remaining ARS scientists without the colleagues required to ensure the security, reliability, and efficiency of their research projects."

The lawmakers continued, "We are eager to work with you to expeditiously hire staff to fill ARS units in the Pacific Northwest. Given the importance of ARS research to farmers, fishermen, ranchers, and the agriculture industry across the country, we urge USDA to take immediate steps to reinstate all affected researchers and support staff. The continuation of ARS's vital work is critical to ensuring the long-term stability and success of American agriculture and we look forward to working with you."

In addition to Merkley and Salinas, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Adam Smith (WA-09), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10).

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Secretary Rollins:

Thank you for the commitment you made at the April 22, 2026 Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to quickly rehire critical staff positions that remain vacant at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in the Pacific Northwest. These vacancies threaten agricultural research that strengthens the nation's food security, bolsters rural economies, and supports farmers, fishermen, and ranchers. We appreciate your willingness to work with Congress to expeditiously fill these vacant positions that provide vital support to the nation's agricultural community.

The Pacific Northwest and USDA-ARS have successfully partnered for over 50 years to advance innovative agricultural science and environmental resilience. The agency's dedicated ARS scientists, technicians, and support staff collaborate with regional partners to find solutions that combat pests and diseases, improve crop yields, strengthen coastal ecosystems, fight soil erosion and wildfires, and adapt practices to the effects of climate chaos.

However, many USDA-ARS staff positions have remained vacant in Oregon and Washington for more than a year now, which impacts the broader research ecosystem and hinders the vital work of ARS. The loss of ARS staff over the past year and a half has undermined years-long research efforts and left significant knowledge gaps in highly specialized scientific areas. These terminations eliminate crucial expertise and fracture longstanding partnerships that drive agricultural innovation. Additionally, the loss of researchers' support staff, security officers, and lab technicians, administrative officers, and post-doctoral researchers has left the few remaining ARS scientists without the colleagues required to ensure the security, reliability, and efficiency of their research projects.

These missing staff positions will have lasting consequences on the region and nation. We continue to hear from Oregon and Washington producers, business owners, and scientists that critical research projects that protect our crops are in jeopardy because of the many ARS positions that remain vacant, despite being funded by Congressional appropriations.

We are eager to work with you to expeditiously hire staff to fill ARS units in the Pacific Northwest. Given the importance of ARS research to farmers, fishermen, ranchers, and the agriculture industry across the country, we urge USDA to take immediate steps to reinstate all affected researchers and support staff. The continuation of ARS's vital work is critical to ensuring the long-term stability and success of American agriculture and we look forward to working with you.

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