WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a series of updates last week addressing public health, environmental policy, and food supply security. The announcements included confirmation of a traveler-associated case of New World screwworm (NWS) in the United States, the next step in rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule, and new efforts to expand the rural veterinary workforce to strengthen America’s food supply chain.
Traveler-Linked New World Screwworm Case Under Investigation
On August 26, federal health officials confirmed a single traveler-associated case of New World screwworm in a patient returning from El Salvador. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is leading the epidemiological investigation in coordination with the Maryland Department of Health and other local authorities.
The USDA reaffirmed that there is no evidence of NWS in U.S. livestock or wildlife and noted that the risk to public health remains low. Out of precaution, targeted surveillance and trapping have been initiated within a 20-mile radius around the affected area, spanning parts of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
All traps tested so far have returned negative results, confirming there are no indications of active spread. USDA officials emphasized that past traveler-related cases have been similarly contained, citing no sustained transmission since the last U.S. outbreak, resolved in the Florida Keys in 2017.
USDA Advances Effort to Rescind 2001 Roadless Rule
On August 27, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the opening of a public comment period on a proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule, a policy that restricts road construction and certain development across nearly 60 million acres of national forest land.
Supporters of rescission argue that the rule has limited wildfire prevention efforts, restricted economic opportunities, and prevented active forest management. “We are one step closer to common sense management of our national forest lands,” Rollins said, adding that local land managers should have more authority to make decisions tailored to their regions.
USDA Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz echoed these concerns, noting that national forests face increasing threats from drought, invasive pests, and wildfire. “The forests we know today are not the same as the forests of 2001,” Schultz said. “It’s time to return land management decisions where they belong — with local Forest Service experts who best understand their forests and communities.”
The proposed rescission would apply to roughly 45 million acres of roadless areas, excluding state-specific rules for Colorado and Idaho. The public has until September 19, 2025, to submit comments, which will help shape an environmental impact statement before any final rule is issued.
Strengthening the Rural Veterinary Workforce
In a separate announcement on August 28, Secretary Rollins unveiled a comprehensive plan to address the nationwide shortage of rural food animal veterinarians and protect the U.S. food supply chain. The plan includes new grant awards, expanded scholarship funding, recruitment incentives, and modernized USDA facilities.
Two new grants under the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) will provide $125,000 each to veterinary practices in Mississippi, enhancing access to diagnostic tools, reproductive services, and educational outreach in underserved rural counties.
Rollins also launched the Rural Veterinary Action Plan, which includes:
- Expanded financial support through streamlined federal grant and loan programs for veterinary students and practitioners.
- Data-driven research by the USDA Economic Research Service to assess workforce shortages.
- Incentives to recruit and retain federal veterinarians, including tuition reimbursement, special pay rates, and recruitment bonuses.
- Support for rural veterinary practices by cataloging available USDA financial programs for clinic development.
- Stakeholder listening sessions with veterinary schools and industry partners to identify barriers and increase recruitment from rural areas.
State leaders praised the initiative, highlighting the critical role veterinarians play in safeguarding animal health and ensuring the stability of America’s food system. “Food security is national security,” said Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, underscoring the importance of investing in veterinary services to support farmers and ranchers.
A Coordinated Focus on Public Health and Agriculture
Taken together, these initiatives demonstrate a multi-agency effort to address emerging biological threats, modernize land management policies, and strengthen rural infrastructure supporting the food supply.
Federal officials emphasized that the confirmed screwworm case poses no immediate risk to public health or livestock but urged continued vigilance and participation in the open comment period for proposed policy changes.
With growing concerns over agricultural resilience, public health preparedness, and environmental management, these actions reflect a coordinated strategy to safeguard U.S. communities, industries, and natural resources.
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