USDA Announces Move of Staff Out of Washington, D.C.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to relocate many of its employees from the Washington, D.C. area to five regional hubs across the country, including locations in North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana, Colorado, and Utah. As part of this reorganization, the agency will vacate several buildings in the capital, notably its flagship research facility in Beltsville, Maryland, and a headquarters building on the National Mall.

By the end of the transition, approximately 2,000 USDA employees will remain in the Washington area, down from a total workforce of 4,600. The remaining staff will be moved into regional centers to better serve local agricultural communities, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

Rollins emphasized that the goal is to bring USDA’s services closer to its primary constituents and to operate more transparently and efficiently. The agency indicated that most staff reductions would occur through voluntary retirements and incentivized resignations, with over 15,000 employees opting to resign under these programs.

However, some lawmakers have expressed concerns. Senators John Boozman and Amy Klobuchar, as well as Rep. Angie Craig, noted they were not consulted before the announcement and call for hearings to review the reorganization. Critics argue that such abrupt changes risk undermining the effectiveness of USDA programs, especially as regional offices are being consolidated, including a significant reduction in offices of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Additional Changes and Concerns

The Forest Service will also close nine regional offices within the next year, considering the ongoing fire season. Employees at the Agricultural Research Service have already reported increased workloads and are worried about losing essential administrative staff due to the relocations.