The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a significant reorganization aimed at enhancing its efficiency and better serving American farmers and ranchers. The plan involves relocating a substantial part of its workforce from Washington, D.C., to five regional hubs across the country.
By the end of this reorganization, only about 2,000 employees will remain in the D.C. area, while approximately 2,600 staff members will be moved to new hubs located in Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Among the properties being vacated is the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland, which has served as a key base for agricultural research. This relocation reflects Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’s commitment to make the USDA more attuned to the needs of its core constituents—farmers and agricultural producers. In her statement, Rollins emphasized that American agriculture plays a vital role not just in feeding the nation but also in fueling its economy.
She noted, “President Trump was elected to make real change in Washington, and we are doing just that by moving our key services outside the beltway and into great American cities across the country.” The intention is to streamline operations while preserving critical health and safety services that American citizens rely on.
The relocation plan is part of a broader initiative by the current administration intended to reorganize and rightsize the federal workforce. While the USDA is not enacting widespread layoffs, the reorganization does coincide with an overall reduction in staff, largely attributed to voluntary retirements. More than 15,000 employees—which amounts to about 15% of the total workforce—chose to participate in retirement incentive programs that were offered.
However, the announcement has not been without its critics. Leaders from both sides of the aisle, including Arkansas Republican Sen. John Boozman and Minnesota Democrats Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Angie Craig, have expressed concerns over the lack of consultation regarding the plan. In their statements, they indicated that they were caught off-guard by the announcement and called for hearings to discuss its implications.
Boozman noted, “The best way to serve our agriculture community is by working together, so it’s disappointing USDA didn’t share its plans in advance of this announcement.” Similarly, Rep. Craig argued that the lack of communication from the USDA demonstrates a failure to learn from past attempts at reorganization.
Moreover, the USDA plans to consolidate several regional offices, specifically aiming to reduce the number of locations for the National Agricultural Statistics Service from twelve offices down to five. This decision is part of a presentation to streamline operations around agricultural market data.
The Forest Service, too, will see changes, with plans in place to close its nine regional offices over the coming year. The agency aims to carry out these transitions while considering ongoing needs like the current fire season.
Employees within the USDA have voiced concerns regarding the impacts of these changes. Ethan Roberts, an employee at the Agricultural Research Service, mentioned that the agency has already been struggling with workload issues following the voluntary departures. He worries that the relocation initiative could exacerbate these challenges, possibly leading to a further loss of critical administrative staff.
Overall, as the USDA embarks on this ambitious reorganization, the emphasis remains on creating a more effective and responsive agency that can support America’s farmers. The hope is that by bringing key services closer to agricultural communities, the USDA can more effectively advocate for the interests of those who form the backbone of America’s agricultural sector.
This reorganization stands as a vital step towards making the USDA more accessible and relevant to those it serves, ultimately aiming to foster a thriving agricultural landscape across the nation.
