The Trump administration’s plan to reorganize the U.S. Department of Agriculture by relocating more than 2,000 employees out of Washington, D.C., has sparked widespread concern among lawmakers, agricultural organizations, and policy experts. Under this plan, USDA staff will be moved from the agency’s headquarters to five regional hubs located in Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City, Utah. Critics warn that such a large-scale relocation could lead to severe disruptions in service, a loss of institutional knowledge, and high staff turnover at a time when farmers and rural communities rely heavily on these services. While USDA leaders argue that the move is intended to improve efficiency and place employees closer to farmers, several agriculture leaders and former officials, including National Farmers Union President Rob Larew and former Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, question whether the benefits will outweigh the damage, pointing out that most USDA employees already work outside Washington.
Concerns about this reorganization have reached Capitol Hill, prompting the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee to schedule hearings. Experts, such as Iowa State University economist Chad Hart, have warned that the move could result in a “brain drain,” with experienced staff unwilling to relocate. Past experience supports these fears: a Government Accountability Office report found that the 2019 relocation of USDA’s Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture to Kansas City caused a temporary decline in staff, productivity, and timely delivery of reports and grants. Federal employee unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees, argue that these relocations undermine Washington’s ability to coordinate policy and decision-making. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has stated that between 50% and 70% of USDA employees based in Washington are expected to move to the new hubs, while those who choose not to relocate may leave the agency altogether. This restructuring, if carried out, could lead to long-term changes in how the USDA operates and how its services reach farmers across the country.