USDA Relocation Plan Raises Service, Staff Disruption Concerns

By Ryan Hanrahan

Progressive Farmer’s Jerry Hagstrom and Todd Neeley reported that “with the release of the Trump administration’s plans to reorganize the U.S. Department of Agriculture including moving more than 2,000 employees out of Washington, D.C., agriculture interest groups, federal lawmakers and others expressed concern about whether the move would disrupt services.”

“Most headquarters employees in Washington will be relocating to five regional USDA hubs in Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City, Utah,” Hagstrom and Neeley reported. “Agriculture groups say they are closely watching the situation while members of Congress are calling for hearings.”

“National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said while his group supports efforts to ‘enhance’ USDA efficiency, there is concern that such a ‘large-scale restructuring or relocation of agency offices could result in significant staff turnover, loss of institutional knowledge and service disruptions, at a time when farmers, ranchers and their communities critically depend on these services to stay afloat,'” Hagstrom and Neeley reported.

“Kathleen Merrigan, the first agriculture deputy secretary in the Obama administration, said one of the reasons cited for the changes  to move USDA employees closer to farmers  doesn’t make sense,” Hagstrom and Neeley reported. “‘With 90% of employees in the field, USDA has always been a field-based department, so marketing this as a strategy to be closer to farmers doesn’t add up,’ she said. ‘As for saving money, the reorganization will cost more than it will save. The biggest impact, if Congress allows this to proceed, will be loss of more civil service talent, the result of forcing USDA leaders to choose between their careers and the needs of their families.'”

“National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Policy Director Mike Lavender said the administration should consult farmers before reorganizing the agency,” Hagstrom and Neeley reported. “‘Without input from farmers, the proposed USDA reorganization would close offices and lead to further staff reductions  and ultimately farmers would pay the price,’ he said.”

E&E News’ Marc Heller reported that “the freshly installed deputy secretary of the Agriculture Department will testify this week on the agency’s plan to vacate buildings and relocate more than half of its 4,600 Washington-area employees to other parts of the country. Stephen Vaden, who was sworn in July 7 and will lead the reorganization effort, should expect sharp questions Wednesday from the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, which hastily called the hearing after the USDA announced the plan without first informing lawmakers.”