WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture will undergo a major reorganization to reduce costs and align more closely with its core mission of serving farmers, ranchers, and foresters. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the plan Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
The department says its workforce grew by 8% over the last four years, with salaries up 14.5%. USDA leadership claims those increases were unsustainable and didn’t translate into better service. In response, USDA will begin relocating many of its Washington-based employees to five regional hubs: Raleigh, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Fort Collins, and Salt Lake City.
The department plans to vacate or repurpose several buildings in the National Capital Region, citing high costs and underuse. Only about 2,000 USDA employees will remain in the region once relocation is complete.
Critical roles related to national security, wildfire management, food inspection, and public safety will continue without interruption. More than 15,000 employees have already opted for voluntary departure under retirement programs. USDA says this is only the first phase of a longer process to right-size its operations and bring services closer to rural America.