URGENT SIGN-ON LETTER

Support the National Organic Program (NOP) and Preserve Its Workforce

The National Organic Coalition, Organic Trade Association, Organic Farmers Association have crafted a letter to Secretary Rollins stating the case for the value of a well-staffed NOP. We ask you to please:

• Review this letter and show your support by signing on!

• Share it with organic operations in your supply chain: certified organic farmers, businesses, retailers, and food co-ops.

• The deadline to sign on is 1pm EST on Monday, April 7th.

Federal agencies are being directed to implement drastic reductions in force (RIF). USDA Secretary Rollins has noted that they will soon be “optimizing and reducing the size of the workforce to become more efficient.” The Department of Health and Human Services recently cut over 10,000 jobs, and USDA employees have been sent a second deferred resignation offer. We believe that decisions on NOP staffing will be imminent.

The National Organic Program oversees a more than $70 billion sector in the U.S. with a staff of around 85 people. Cuts to this small team will hinder support for new and expanding operations, weaken enforcement, delay services, and compromise the NOP’s ability to prevent fraud and uphold the consumer trust that is essential to the organic label. We need your voice to prevent this, and our timeline is tight.

Posted: to Industry News on Sat, Apr 5, 2025
Updated: Sat, Apr 5, 2025