Seth Meyer, who has served as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief economist since 2021, is stepping down from his federal post to join the University of Missouri’s food and agricultural policy institute, the university announced Tuesday.
The departure marks another significant loss for the USDA as the agency continues to grapple with a substantial exodus of research personnel during President Donald Trump’s ongoing federal government downsizing initiative. The department has already lost thousands of research staff members as part of the broader effort to reduce the size of the federal workforce.
Meyer’s exit comes at a critical juncture for American agricultural policy, as the nation faces mounting challenges in food security, climate adaptation, and global trade dynamics. As chief economist, Meyer has been instrumental in providing data-driven analysis that shapes policy decisions affecting millions of American farmers and the broader agricultural sector.
The University of Missouri’s food and agricultural policy institute will benefit from Meyer’s extensive experience in federal agricultural economics and policy analysis. His transition to academia represents a growing trend of federal experts moving to university positions, potentially creating knowledge gaps within government agencies.
The timing of Meyer’s departure underscores the challenges facing federal research institutions as they navigate administrative changes and budget constraints. The USDA’s research capacity has been under particular scrutiny as the department works to maintain its scientific integrity while adapting to new political priorities.
This latest personnel change highlights the ongoing transformation within federal agricultural agencies and raises questions about the long-term impact on the government’s ability to conduct critical research that informs national food and farming policies.
