McAllen, TX (KRGV) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture began taking applications for 228 jobs at its New World Screwworm sterile fly production facility in Edinburg and will hold a hiring event in McAllen next week.

USDA said the hiring event will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST Nov. 17-19, 2026, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton McAllen Convention Center, 800 Convention Center Blvd. in McAllen. Hiring managers will conduct interviews at the event.

USDA said people can also apply online at USAJobs.gov starting Tuesday. The agency also said people do not need to register, but should bring a resume to the event.

“The men and women of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are vital to defending our nation against invasive pests and diseases that could devastate the agricultural industry, and we need skilled professionals dedicated to this mission on our front lines,” Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins said in a statement. “This hiring event gives people who may never have considered working in government an opportunity to join a mission worthy of the challenging work.”

The jobs will support work at Moore Air Base across scientific and technical roles, skilled trades, safety, administrative support and information technology. USDA said the event will also include information about the hiring process and the work tied to the new facility.

“Protecting U.S. livestock and wildlife from New World Screwworm is a national security priority, and this new facility will drastically boost the availability of sterile flies – our most successful offensive capability to drive these serious pests away from our border,” Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said in a statement. “The people filling these vital positions will serve at the front lines in our battle against this serious pest and help ensure that we again eradicate it from our country. Thanks to the speed of the Trump Administration and the support of the Department of War and the Army Corps of Engineers, this facility will open in record speed, nearly five years ahead of schedule.”

The facility at Moore Air Base is set to open in spring 2027.