By Jamie Martin
Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announces that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is reorganizing to better support farmers and reduce costs. This includes moving many workers out of Washington, D.C., cutting extra management, and focusing on helping rural communities more effectively.
USDA buildings in D.C. are underused and need major repairs. The South Building, for instance, houses less than 2,000 workers in a space meant for over 6,000, with over $1.3 billion in needed fixes. To save money and serve people better, USDA will move many jobs to five affordable hub cities: Raleigh, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Fort Collins, and Salt Lake City.
The plan has four parts: reduce staff to match budget limits, move staff closer to the people they serve, cut unnecessary management, and combine overlapping office tasks. Around 2,000 employees will stay in Washington, D.C., but many others will be offered voluntary retirement or relocation.
“American agriculture feeds, clothes, and fuels this nation and the world, and it is long past time the Department better serve the great and patriotic farmers, ranchers, and producers we are mandated to support. President Trump was elected to make real change in Washington, and we are doing just that by moving our key services outside the beltway and into great American cities across the country,” said Secretary Rollins.
Despite the changes, all critical functions—like wildfire response and food safety—will continue. A previous memorandum already protected these essential jobs from hiring freezes.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National