The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is undergoing a significant transformation involving a reorganization that includes the relocation of thousands of employees from the Washington, D.C. region and the consolidation of several offices nationwide. This strategic move is poised to further reduce the department’s workforce, following a trend of diminishing numbers over the past few years. Currently, the USDA employs approximately 4,600 individuals in the capital metropolitan area, with plans to reduce this figure to around 2,000. In fact, only 10% of the agency’s workforce is based in Washington, revealing a shift in operations to other regions. This substantial change aims to enhance affordability and efficiency within the USDA, although it raises questions about employee welfare and service quality.
Shifting the Workforce: Relocation and Consolidation
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized that while the department is not executing a large-scale workforce reduction, it seeks to financially sustain its personnel. Efforts are underway to reduce costs by moving operations to regions with lower locality pay adjustments compared to Washington, D.C. In line with this goal, the USDA will establish five key regional hubs in Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City, Utah. In an effort to maintain continuity, existing employees in these regions will be relocated to the hubs whenever possible. Additionally, as part of the reorganization, numerous support functions such as communications, finance, human resources, and lease administration will be streamlined for better efficiency. This consolidation process also entails aligning functions like civil rights and legislative affairs, aiming for a more cohesive structure.
One of the immediate impacts of this strategy includes vacating major facilities such as the South Building in Washington and Braddock Place in Alexandria, Virginia. Further plans are in place to eventually relinquish the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and the George Washington Carver Center in Maryland. This represents a broader shift in the USDA’s operational footprint. However, these changes are met with apprehension from employees, some likening potential terminations due to reassignments to scenarios reminiscent of “The Hunger Games.” The agency has signaled a clear directive that employees unwilling to shift locations may face job termination. Already, an initiative allowing employees to remain on paid leave prior to resignation led to the departure of over 15,000 individuals, highlighting the challenges ahead.
Employee Concerns and Stakeholder Reactions
Among USDA personnel, the notion of relocation has sparked considerable anxiety, particularly the prospect of involuntary job loss. Past relocations, such as the forced move of the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture to Kansas City, resulted in sharp workforce reductions and productivity declines. Anticipating similar outcomes, USDA officials foresee refusals of relocation proposals, potentially triggering further downsizing through separation incentives rather than severance payments. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, vocalized criticisms of this decision, asserting it undermines critical agricultural functions and diminishes the workforce through forced geographic shifts. He underscored the importance of Washington, D.C., as a central coordination hub between leadership and field offices, especially in interactions with the White House and Congress.
Amid the physical transitions, there is an underlying worry about the potential impacts on public services. Reports from certain USDA entities such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) suggest existing vacancies have already led to operational inefficiencies likened to “Swiss cheese,” with more gaps anticipated. This concern extends to agricultural stakeholders, as voiced by a member of the Agricultural Research Service, who cast doubt on whether farmers and producers would support these substantial organizational shifts. While the overarching goal remains decentralization and cost-effectiveness, the challenge lies in safeguarding the welfare of employees while maintaining high service quality.
Navigating Challenges in Modernizing Federal Institutions
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins clarified that while the department isn’t undergoing significant workforce cuts, it aims to financially sustain its employees. They’re cutting costs by moving operations to areas with lower locality pay than Washington, D.C. To support this, the USDA will set up five principal regional hubs in Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City, Utah. Employees in these areas, where feasible, will be relocated to these hubs. Additionally, the reorganization involves streamlining support functions like communications, finance, human resources, and lease administration for efficiency. Aligning civil rights and legislative affairs functions is also part of creating a cohesive structure. A direct result of this strategy is vacating major locations such as the South Building in Washington, D.C., and Braddock Place in Alexandria, Virginia. Plans are underway to eventually relinquish facilities like the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. Employees face the prospect of job loss if unwilling to relocate, with notable departures already following this shift.
