Elon Musk demite 6.000 pessoas e espécies invasoras preocupam a galera da agricultura
In the last few months, a decision made behind closed doors and massive layoffs have started to trigger unsettling effects all over the United States. While the media focuses on names like Elon Musk and Donald Trump, a silent threat is advancing unchecked. What seemed like a simple personnel reorganization could turn into a fatal blow to the country’s food security. What is really happening? Let’s dive into it.
Unexpected Decision with Possible Irreversible Consequences
Back in February, the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DGE), led by Elon Musk, made a radical decision: the dismissal of 6000 employees from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This seemingly technical and administrative measure was executed hastily and without a clear replacement strategy.
The damage quickly became visible. These employees were not just office staff but highly specialized professionals: inspectors, trainers, entomologists, experts in invasive species, and zoonotic diseases. Among them, Derek Copeland trained the only dog in Florida capable of detecting the giant African land snail, a pest with the potential to devastate entire crops in the state. His dismissal halted that crucial work.
According to testimonies collected by outlets like Wired, the situation is even more serious than it seems. “There is only a reduced and overwhelmed team left, and it’s not something that artificial intelligence can easily replace,” revealed an anonymous worker from the DGE. The effects, if the course is not corrected, could be felt throughout the entire US agri-food chain.
The Invisible Threat: Pest and Food at Risk
Behind the layoffs, a silently growing threat lurks: the expansion of invasive species that could go unnoticed without trained personnel to detect them in time. The lack of inspectors and expert technicians increases the vulnerability of entry ports, allowing dangerous organisms to penetrate the country unchecked.
Mike Lahar, a representative from the customs firm Deringer, explains it clearly: “These were not just any employees but specialists with higher education who played a vital role in protecting the national agri-food system.” Without their expertise, the country could face issues like food rotting at ports and a shortage of basic commodities, leading to food inflation.
The fear is not just in the short term. If invasive species manage to establish themselves, they could alter entire ecosystems, extinguish native species, and collapse key agricultural sectors. And the most alarming part is that the country does not seem prepared to face a crisis of this magnitude.
Reversal on the Horizon or a New Offensive?
Amid growing discontent and judicial pressure, two federal judges and an independent agency have demanded a partial reversal of the layoffs and the reinstatement of affected personnel. However, the outlook remains uncertain. The USDA announced the suspension of layoffs for 45 days and a plan for a gradual work reactivation, but the effective implementation of that order largely depends on political will.
The big question is whether Donald Trump, politically linked to Musk and responsible for enabling these cuts, will respect judicial decisions or seek to impose his vision, even if it means overriding institutional checks and balances.
Meanwhile, time is ticking, and each day without trained personnel represents a new opportunity for invisible threats to cross borders unchecked. The risk is not immediate or obvious, but it has already begun to take shape, and its scope could be much greater than anyone imagines.
What if this is not just a bad administrative decision? What if we are facing the beginning of a much deeper transformation in the way the country’s food system is protected? The answer, for now, remains hidden among government offices, autonomous agencies, and silent threats.
