USDA'S BACK-TO-OFFICE PLAN: Federal agencies are starting to implement their return-to-office plans nearly two years after many employees transitioned to working from home as the pandemic unfolded. USDA is bringing senior employees back into offices today and plans to bring back all other workers in phases starting March 28, according to a senior department official. That date is subject to approval by the Office of Management and Budget, which is coordinating return-to-office plans across the executive branch. USDA's frontline workers: Of course, thousands of firefighters, meat inspectors and other frontline workers at USDA have been working in-person since the pandemic began. Throwback: Regular MA readers may recall that the department in November expanded telework eligibility and established a remote work policy, per an internal memo obtained by our Pro Ag team. Those flexibilities are likely to remain in place as offices reopen. Office politics: GOP senators for months have been calling for all USDA employees to return to work in person, especially those stationed beyond the Beltway, claiming that the remote work flexibilities could result in a slowdown of USDA's most public-facing programs, like those managed by the Farm Service Agency. Secretary Tom Vilsack, however, maintains that the department has been as productive as ever with the telework expansion in place. "We keep track of the level of work that's being done at Farm Service Agencies to try and see whether or not the pandemic has negatively impacted the ability to get work done," Vilsack told the House Agriculture Committee in January, citing the high number of USDA loans issued in fiscal 2021. "In fact, we are continuing to work at pre-pandemic levels." Getting back to normal: The move also comes as Biden administration officials and Democrats are beginning to make a bigger push for a "return to normalcy." A memo written by Democratic firm Impact Research and published by Punchbowl News on Friday outlines strategies for Democrats to change the way the pandemic is discussed ahead of the upcoming elections. CHLORPYRIFOS CRACKDOWN TAKES EFFECT: The EPA officially denied all objections to its final rule that makes the insecticide chlorpyrifos illegal for use on food products within the U.S., as of today. The agency also rejected all requests for a hearing on the objections and a temporary stay of the rule. ICYMI: The EPA in August decided to ban nearly all uses of the pesticide , which has been widely used to grow crops like fruits, vegetables, nuts, corn and wheat, but was also linked to neurological problems in children. The August order set the pesticide on track to be phased out from usage on food crops after six months, making Feb. 28 the official cutoff date. Worker advocates and environmental groups, who have been calling for a ban for over a decade, hailed the move. But numerous agriculture industry groups ultimately sued the EPA over the restrictions — the objections that the agency just denied. Already winding down: Corteva announced in 2020 that it would stop selling the chemical, citing declining sales. And individual states including California, New York, Hawaii and Maryland had already banned the use, sale, distribution and possession of chlorpyrifos before the EPA order. EQUITY COMMISSION, COMMENCE: USDA's new Equity Commission and its subcommittee on agriculture will publicly meet for the first time this morning to kick off its review of USDA programs and policies. To recap, the commission was formed to make recommendations on how the department can improve access to its programs and advance equity within the industry. As your host reported earlier this month, 28 educators, farmers, industry leaders and other advocates were appointed by Vilsack to sit on the commission. Two-year timeline: The effort will serve as an "external review" of the department — fulfilling a Biden campaign promise. Within a year, the commission will publish an interim report and provide recommendations, followed by a final report within two years. More action soon: Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh told your host the department will issue an "equity action plan" and a "diversity and inclusion strategic plan" as soon as March. Pros can refresh themselves on the lineup of Equity Commission appointees here, and members of the public can register to observe the meeting here. SENATE DEMANDS ANSWERS ON FORMULA RECALL: Two Democratic senators sent a letter to the CEO of Abbott Nutrition requesting information and documents related to the infant formula recall that began earlier this month, following our Helena Bottemiller Evich's report that the FDA, CDC and Abbott all knew about the first infant illness months before a recall was issued. The latest: As Helena now reports , the letter comes as the CDC says it has received reports of more Cronobacter sakazakii cases that may be tied to the outbreak, beyond the four previously known hospitalizations, including one death. Abbott's response: Abbott Nutrition didn't have an immediate comment on the letter, but the company says it took swift action. "Abbott conducts extensive quality checks on each completed batch of infant formula, including microbiological analysis prior to release," spokesman Jonathon Hamilton said. From the FDA: The agency said Friday it's working to ease supply chain issues as parents have faced formula shortages across the country, and it's coordinating with USDA because so much of the recalled formula was part of the WIC program, which provides nutrition to millions of low-income parents and young children. The recall sent dozens of state agencies scrambling to reassure parents and help them replace recalled products. More questions: FDA has so far declined to respond to several of POLITICO's questions about the timeline and inspection history of the Abbott plant in question. If you have a tip, email Helena hbottemiller@politico.com.
| 
