While a series of federal budget cuts are scheduled to go into effect on March 1, the threatened furlough of FSIS federal meat inspectors could be months down the road, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Vilsack said work rules vary for USDA employees, who get from 30 to as many as 120 days, or four months, notice of impending layoffs, reports Reuters.
"I'm not sure what it is in the food safety area," Vilsack told reporters at the annual USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum after warning that a two-week furlough of all inspectors may be unavoidable.