Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Efforts and Resources to Contain the COVID-19 Pandemic

In January 2021, President Biden released the National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness (PDF, 24 MB). The plan calls on all parts of the federal government to contribute resources, facilities, personnel, and expertise to contain the pandemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responding to the President’s call to action. In addition to personnel, USDA is offering its facilities, cold chain infrastructure, public health experts, disaster response specialists, scientists and researchers, and footprint in rural areas and Tribal communities across the country. With a presence in nearly every county in the United States and more than 140 countries around the world, USDA is working alongside federal partners to contain the outbreak and message about the importance of vaccinations for pandemic recovery. You may view more information in our COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan and in our Frequently Asked Questions on USDA’s Response to COVID-19 Workplace Safety (PDF, 177 KB).

In order to request a religious exception, please fill out this Request for a Religious Exception to the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement (PDF, 251 KB). The agency may ask for other information as needed to determine if you are legally entitled to an exception.

Mask Guidance: Our first priority is to ensure the health and safety of USDA employees, contractors, customers and visitors to USDA facilities and federal lands. That’s why, in compliance with guidance provided by CDC, USDA requires all on-duty or on-site USDA employees, on-site USDA contractors, and all persons in USDA buildings or on USDA lands to wear face masks, maintain physical distance, and take other public health measures as appropriate. You may view more information in our COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

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News

2022-12-21 - USDA Developing New Tools to Identify COVID Virus in Wild and Domestic Animals

2022-10-21 - Biden-Harris Administration Invests $11.1 Million to Help Crystal Freeze Dry LLC Expand Manufacturing Capacity to Strengthen the Food Supply Chain and Create Jobs for People in Rural Iowa

2021-12-07 - USDA to Make Up to $800 Million Available to Provide Economic Relief to Biofuel Producers and Restore Renewable Fuel Markets Hit by the Pandemic

2021-12-02 - USDA Issues Final Pandemic Payments for Timber Harvesters and Haulers

Latest Information

For the latest information about how to stop the spread or to learn more about the federal response, visit coronavirus.gov, cdc.gov/coronavirus, and USA.gov/Coronavirus.

USDA will continue providing timely delivery of services across all USDA agencies and offices. See the “News” resource summarizing the USDA COVID-19 response. You may also view our Fact Sheet: Update on USDA Activities to Contain the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s Memorandum M-20-21, all financial information that agencies are required to report concerning their disposition of CARES Act and other supplemental COVID-19 appropriated funds is publicly available on USAspending.gov. Click on the following link to view the COVID-19 Spending profile page.

Additional Resources

CDC Guidance

Federal Guidance

USDA Guidance

Personnel Deployments

445 Personnel Currently Deployed
(Mar. 17, 2021)

Since the start of the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has deployed 311 personnel. Currently, 220 APHIS personnel remain active, consisting of:
- 34 employees to support FEMA with planning and logistics;
- 92 employees to Nevada, Oklahoma, Maryland, and Delaware to administer vaccinations;
- 8 Safety Officers at a variety of rapid points of distribution including mobile teams and pop-up clinics;
- 1 employee supporting FEMA Region VI with field operations;
- 11 employees to Dallas;
- 9 employees to Chicago;
- 22 employees to Rhode Island and Wisconsin to prepare the vaccine for those administering vaccines; and
- 19 intake registrars and 24 floor managers in Oregon.
The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the Agricultural Marketing Service, and the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) have dispatched 32 veterinarians to assist with vaccination efforts in Nevada, Maryland, and Oklahoma.
The USDA Forest Service has deployed 186 Incident Management Team personnel and they are currently assigned to the National COVID Vaccine Campaign. Their work includes staffing vaccination centers, providing logistical support, and planning at regional/state levels with FEMA and states.
One (1) member of the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), one (1) member of the Office of Homeland Security (OHS), one (1) member of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), and four (4) U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers detailed to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) are assisting with logistical support for the vaccination campaign.

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