1. United States
2. Ky.
3. Letter

I am deeply concerned about threats to the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), which safeguards our crop genetic diversity and food security. Recent staffing cuts at the USDA, driven by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have disrupted this critical program. Although a court ordered the reinstatement of these employees, they have yet to return, putting our agricultural resilience at risk. The NPGS preserves over 200 essential crop species, ensuring we can develop new varieties resistant to disease, pests, and climate change. Weakening this system directly undermines our ability to sustain food production and dietary diversity. I urge you to: 1 Ensure USDA staff are reinstated as required by the court order. 2 Protect NPGS funding from budget cuts. 3 Recognize crop genetic diversity as a national priority. Past generations understood that a responsible government invests in its long-term ability to feed its people. Please take action to protect the NPGS and our nation’s food security.