In a news release, the National Association of Farmer Elected Committees (NAFEC), the group reiterated that FSA offices “are critically understaffed,” yet USDA officials have publicly denied those concerns. Still, leaders at NAFEC said leaders at FSA in recent meetings have indicated staffing levels of county office employees are now under 6,000, as compared to several thousand more, just a few years ago. “NAFEC has County Committee members in every county in the nation and the word we are consistently hearing is our county office staffs are critically understaffed,” said Jim Zumbrink, President of NAFEC, and a grain and turkey farmer from Ohio. USDA officials, including Vaden, recently cited the speed FSA offices issued disaster payments as the reason FSA offices are not understaffed. Having adequate staffing in every FSA office across the nation is a critical part of that protection,” Center said.