The AVMA recognizes there are many changes taking place with the federal government and that our members and the veterinary community are being impacted in a variety of ways. The AVMA's membership is broad with respect to interests, roles, and political viewpoints. We want to assure you that we are working diligently on behalf of all our members, and remain committed to protecting the interests of veterinarians, your teams, and the animals under your care.

Specific to the federal workforce, we are working with the National Association of Federal Veterinarians (NAFV) and have been in communication with the Administration to highlight the critical roles federal veterinarians play in safeguarding animal health, public health, and food safety, across many positions and agencies. Extensive news coverage around avian influenza has provided us with an opportunity to highlight the essential need for veterinary expertise in response to disease outbreaks. Similarly, we are sharing the critical importance of personnel who help ensure the effectiveness and safety of drugs, biologics, and medical devices, as well as the safety and quality of animal and human foods.

When making personnel decisions, we have asked that individual roles be assessed and that critical veterinary positions be exempted from the hiring freeze. Some veterinary positions in the Food Safety and Inspection Service and in the Department of Homeland Security have begun to be advertised. However, circumstances in different agencies vary considerably and there are ongoing questions and confusion. Our efforts to highlight the importance of the federal veterinary workforce in supporting agency missions and the health of animals and people will continue.

In 2023, the AVMA House of Delegates passed a resolution addressing the federal workforce, recognizing the importance of public practice to the entire veterinary community. This resolution acknowledged that recruitment and retention of veterinarians in government service is an ever-greater challenge, pointing out that some areas in federal agencies are experiencing vacancy rates as high as 40% despite instituting recruitment and retention incentives.

We have also heard your concerns around funding pauses that have the potential to significantly impact research, veterinary education, and the financial stability of veterinary graduates. Reduced federal funding disrupts research projects, limiting advancements in One Health and disease prevention, while also affecting faculty positions and training opportunities that support veterinary students and develop a new generation of educators. Sustained funding cuts to educational programs may ultimately increase tuition burdens for veterinary students and veterinary technician students. At the same time, applications for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and Veterinary Services Grant Program have been placed on hold pending review. We have contacted the Administration to communicate the importance of these programs for rural communities and to encourage the hold to be lifted for both programs. Your AVMA is working, as part of an effort that includes other health professions, on the programs noted above and also, importantly, student loan programs as a whole to share concerns and seek solutions.

Last, but certainly not least, the AVMA emphasizes our ongoing commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our commitment is clear: we value every voice and every contribution, whether focused on safeguarding animal health and welfare, ensuring a safe and secure food supply, advancing public health, or driving biomedical discovery. Every person matters and plays a key role in moving this profession forward. Our focus will continue to be on building environments and workplaces where veterinarians, members of their teams, and students from all backgrounds and experiences feel welcomed and supported. We firmly believe that promoting a positive workplace culture is essential to our ability to deliver high quality veterinary care.

In these uncertain times, we recognize that our community is confronting a range of challenges and looks to the AVMA as a reliable source of support—through the programs we deliver and the resources we provide. We are dedicated to protecting the integrity of the veterinary profession, while working together to find solutions that benefit our entire community and modeling the future we wish to see.