Key Takeaways
- The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) received overwhelmingly negative feedback on its plan to relocate thousands of staff and consolidate dozens of offices.
- The plan could lead to a significant brain drain and disruptions to key farmer-support programs, with 82% of respondents expressing a negative sentiment.
- The department is standing up five regional hubs around the country, but stakeholders raised concerns about the loss of "local oversight and expertise" and the potential for "top-down management" to misalign with regional needs.
- Employees, lawmakers, and stakeholders expressed concerns about the impact of reductions in personnel and resources, potential layoffs, and the loss of institutional knowledge.
- The USDA is moving forward with the plan despite the negative feedback, with relocations expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Introduction to the USDA’s Relocation Plan
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has received overwhelmingly negative feedback on its plan to relocate thousands of staff and consolidate dozens of offices. The plan, which aims to reduce costs and improve efficiency, has been met with criticism from employees, lawmakers, and stakeholders who believe it could lead to a significant brain drain and disruptions to key farmer-support programs. The department received nearly 47,000 responses to its solicitation for public comments, with 82% of respondents expressing a negative sentiment.
Concerns about the Relocation Plan
Among the most common concerns expressed by respondents were the impacts of reductions in personnel and resources, potential layoffs, and the loss of institutional knowledge. Stakeholders also raised concerns about the loss of "local oversight and expertise" and the potential for "top-down management" to misalign with regional needs. The department’s plan to eliminate facilities like the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland sparked fears that the cuts would inhibit scientific research and food security efforts. The USDA’s analysis of the comments also noted that respondents were concerned about the lack of transparency in the reorganization process and demanded more stakeholder input.
Impact on Employees and Local Communities
Employees, for their part, stressed the importance of support for the workforce throughout the reorganization process. The department should regularly review the impact on employees and check in on their well-being, they told USDA, while ensuring that subject matter expertise is preserved. Employee unions also submitted comments, noting their lack of consultation and concerns over workforce retention. They cited the USDA’s relocation of two offices in 2019 to Kansas City, which resulted in the loss of more than half of their staff and significant drops in productivity. Local governments raised questions about the future of components with which they interact most frequently, such as the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development.
Lawmaker and Stakeholder Concerns
Dozens of lawmakers from both the House and Senate wrote to the USDA, warning about a loss of skilled workers and impacts to the nation’s "scientific edge." They took issue with the administration’s choices for the new hubs and expressed concern over the potential loss of local input. The lawmakers asked that certain research labs remain open, the department hold public hearings, and significant efforts be taken to ensure continuity of services. Stakeholders also asked the department to take special care not to sacrifice its efforts with tribal nations. The mostly negative feedback from stakeholders is not expected to deter the USDA as it reshapes the department, with several employees telling Government Executive that the plan was proceeding full steam ahead.
USDA’s Response and Next Steps
The USDA is moving forward with the plan despite the negative feedback, with relocations expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden recently told Agri-Pulse that all relocations would be effectuated by the end of 2026. The department has established five regional hubs around the country, located in Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City, Utah. While the USDA has said that the locations will provide a cheaper cost of living for employees and move them closer to the department’s core constituency, stakeholders and lawmakers remain concerned about the impact of the plan on the department’s ability to serve farmers and local communities. The USDA’s fiscal 2026 spending bill includes a reminder from lawmakers that Congress has final say on next year’s funding levels, and the department should not presuppose program funding outcomes and prematurely initiate action to redirect staffing prior to knowing final outcomes on fiscal year 2027 program funding.