Accessibility links
(dot) Gov: The Department Of Agriculture And The Environmental Protection Agency : 1A It's safe to say most Americans hear the most about the U.S. Department of Agriculture when things go wrong — namely when something has to be recalled.

But the department is responsible for so much more than just delivering bad news. It consists of 29 agencies that employ some 100,000 employees across 4,500 locations both domestic and abroad.

Another agency whose name shows up when things go wrong is the Environmental Protection Agency. As its name implies, it's tasked with creating and upholding standards that protect the health of Americans and our environment, including our natural resources and ecosystems. It's an important, if sometimes thankless, responsibility.

We discuss what the agencies and their responsibilities.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

1A

(dot) Gov: The Department Of Agriculture And The Environmental Protection Agency

(dot) Gov: The Department Of Agriculture And The Environmental Protection Agency

Listen · 35:44
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1224776168/1264851700" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Enlarge this image

Cows from a non-suspect herd are milked at the Cornell Teaching Dairy Barn at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Cows from a non-suspect herd are milked at the Cornell Teaching Dairy Barn at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

It's safe to say most Americans hear the most about the U.S. Department of Agriculture when things go wrong — namely when something has to be recalled.

But the department is responsible for so much more than just delivering bad news. It consists of 29 agencies that employ some 100,000 employees across 4,500 locations both domestic and abroad.

Another agency whose name shows up when things go wrong is the Environmental Protection Agency. As its name implies, it's tasked with creating and upholding standards that protect the health of Americans and our environment, including our natural resources and ecosystems. It's an important, if sometimes thankless, responsibility.

So, what are these federal employees at these agencies responsible for? And how do they get it done?

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.