On Thursday, the USDA announced plans to shift many of its staff from Washington, D.C., to five regional hubs, resulting in the vacating of several buildings in the capital, including its prominent research center.
More than 2,000 employees will be relocating away from the D.C. area, according to the agency’s news release.
The remaining 2,600 staff members will move to hubs in Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City.
In addition, the USDA plans to establish several locations in the D.C. area, including the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland and one headquarters at the National Mall.
Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins stated, “American agriculture feeds, clothes, and fuels this country and the world. The past has long been a service to the great, patriotic farmers, ranchers, and producers we support.” She emphasized that President Trump is advocating for real change in Washington, which includes relocating key services beyond the Beltway to major U.S. cities.
Rollins further elaborated that this plan is formulated through a transparent approach that maintains vital health and public safety services that Americans depend on. “We do the right thing by the thousands of hard-working USDA employees who are highly valued by the people they serve,” she added.
In a video addressed to staff, Rollins mentioned that bringing employees closer to “core components” was part of the strategy behind the relocation.
This initiative aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to reorganize and trim the federal workforce. Though there haven’t been extensive staff cuts, the USDA indicates this relocation is part of its workforce reduction strategy.
Significantly, the cuts seem mostly related to voluntary retirements as over 15,000 employees, accounting for more than 15% of the total workforce, opted for financial incentives to resign.
Senator John Boozman, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, along with Minnesota Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Angie Craig, expressed their concerns over the lack of discussion prior to the announcement and called for hearings regarding the restructuring efforts.
Boozman remarked, “The best way to serve our farming community is to collaborate, so it’s unfortunate that the USDA didn’t share plans ahead of this announcement.” Similarly, Craig criticized the reorganization, highlighting that it lacked input from Congress or relevant stakeholders, suggesting it could undermine the effectiveness of institutions supporting America’s family farms.
The USDA additionally plans to consolidate some regional offices, reducing the number of national agricultural statistics service offices from 12 to 5.
Moreover, the Forest Service aims to shut down nine regional offices over the next year, also considering the active fire season in their plans.
Employee Ethan Roberts noted that those in Agricultural Research Services are already facing challenges in handling their workloads after voluntary resignations. “A lot of people won’t accept the relocation offers, which could further diminish the essential administrative staff that keeps USDA and ARS running,” he shared.
