Senator Marco Rubio has criticized Deere & Co . (NYSE:DE), the world’s largest tractor manufacturer, for laying off 2,000 American workers as it shifts production from the United States to Mexico.
In a strongly worded letter to John Deere Chairman and CEO John May, Rubio emphasized the company’s duty to prioritize American workers and maintain its deep-rooted connection to the U.S. agricultural sector.
While the senator said the company’s move to roll back several controversial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies was a positive step, he expressed concern about reports the company is to reduce its U.S. workforce and relocate manufacturing operations to Mexico.
“John Deere is an iconic American brand, beloved for generations by farmers, ranchers, builders, and hardworking Americans of all stripes,” Rubio wrote. “I write to remind you of your company’s duty to your workers, their families, the communities in which they live, the nation which you call home, your hardworking customers, and your shareholders.”
Rubio highlighted that since November 2023, John Deere has laid off 15% of its wage workers in the U.S., amounting to over 2,000 job losses in the past year alone.
He pointed out that during the same period, the company spent $7.2 billion on stock buybacks.
The senator called for John Deere to recommit to its American workforce, emphasizing the need for a strong manufacturing sector to support the nation’s agricultural self-sufficiency.
“American corporations, like John Deere, have a duty to their workers, nation, customers, and shareholders,” Rubio concluded, urging the company to reconsider its recent decisions and prioritize its domestic operations.
