About a dozen people ultimately lost their jobs this week at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan after federal officials made cuts and then tried to rehire some employees, a USDA spokesperson said in a statement.

The Mercury earlier this week reported that according to a source, at least 28 people at NBAF had been notified by email that they had lost their jobs. The email said the decision was related to job performance, but it seems they were part of the nationwide federal workforce reductions by the Trump administration.

The USDA subsequently announced it was rehiring some employees who were working on the federal government’s response to the avian influenza outbreak spreading across the United States, as well as other employees whose jobs are deemed critical.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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By Ned Seaton and Megan Moser

The Mercury reported Monday that at least 28 people had been fired from the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan as part of Trump administration cuts. NBAF, the federal animal disease lab north of the K-State campus, is under the control of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

However, later in the week, national media outlets reported that some federal employees who had been cut — particularly those working on projects like the avian influenza response — were being rehired.

“Some people were hired back and some were not,” a source with direct knowledge of the situation at NBAF told The Mercury on Wednesday. The person spoke on a condition of anonymity.

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By Megan Moser

Among those fired this week at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility is a high-level official working on the bird flu response, sources said Monday.

As avian fluenza has continued to spread across the United States, sources confirmed that one of the 28 people terminated at NBAF since Friday was an official working to combat the virus.

The sources, who have direct knowledge of the situation, asked not to be identified.

As reported by The Mercury Monday, at least 28 people at NBAF have been terminated since Friday as part of the Trump administration’s cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Some of those included people whose jobs relate to safety practices at NBAF and researchers for dangerous animal diseases.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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By Emma Loura

Chants criticizing President Donald Trump’s administration and supporting immigrants rang out on the northwest corner of 11th Street and Poyntz Avenue on Monday.

Indivisible MHK, a political activism group that says it’s “defending democracy,” organized the protest of about 80 people who braved the frigid temperatures in Manhattan in response to Trump’s executive actions and massive cuts to federal agencies by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

Indivisible MHK is part of a larger national organization opposed to the Trump administration and favoring progressive policies. The Manhattan demonstration was one of several protests across the country on Presidents Day.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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On today’s episode of Within Reason with Mike Matson, Mike splits his time with Megan Moser, executive editor of The Manhattan Mercury, and Brandon Keazer, director of Manhattan Regional Airport.

Mike and Megan dive into drastic employee cuts at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, a result of reduced federal funding for the government workforce.

Brandon Keazer joins in the second segment to discuss another record-setting year at the Manhattan Regional Airport. American Airlines flights to Chicago and Dallas out of MRA attracted more passengers than ever in 2024, an accolade that bodes well for the future of the airport. Brandon reveals improvements that are on the way.

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The post Within Reason With Mike Matson 02/18/25: Megan Moser and Brandon Keazer appeared first on News Radio KMAN.