Bryan rancher says government shutdown could delay progress on bison vaccine

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - The U.S. government officially shut down late Tuesday night, and in the Brazos Valley, a Bryan rancher says the pause on USDA programs could jeopardize progress on a vaccine for his bison herd.

A shutdown began at 11 p.m. CT on Tuesday after lawmakers in Washington failed to reach a budget deal.

It’s the first shutdown since 2019, and it means hundreds of thousands of federal employees across the country are being furloughed, potentially let go, while programs and services are put on hold.

RELATED | A look at previous government shutdowns and how they ended

The USDA is one of several federal agencies impacted by the shutdown, an agency that works closely with Brazos Valley farmers and ranchers.

At the Lucky B Bison Ranch in Bryan, Donnis Baggett and his wife