A parasitic fly that could do major damage to livestock has arrived in Texas. The USDA says it’s ready to fight, but some say a reduced workforce could impact its response.

When the Elon Musk-affiliated Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) swept through Washington in 2025, slashing the workforce of federal agencies, the ramifications were far-reaching.

Those decisions are now drawing renewed scrutiny as the New World screwworm, a parasitic threat to livestock and other animals, resurfaces in Texas, and questions emerge about whether federal agencies have enough resources to contain it.