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USDA's Cost-Cutting Relocations Raise Service Disruption Concerns
- On July 24, 2025, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced relocating over half of the Washington, D.C.-based staff to five regional agricultural hubs, including Salt Lake City.
- This move follows a similar 2019 decision when the USDA shifted two key research agencies to Kansas City, leading to a substantial loss of experienced personnel and a temporary reduction in productivity.
- The USDA plans to reduce the National Capital Region workforce from about 4,600 to fewer than 2,000 employees while eliminating redundant management layers and bringing experts closer to constituents.
- Chad Hart warned this move could cause a brain drain as not all staff will relocate, while supporters like Sen. Mike Lee and Utah leaders praised bringing USDA services closer to local farmers and ranchers.
- Critics fear service disruptions similar to those after prior relocations, raising concerns about diminished workforce capacity and slower grant processing despite promised cost savings and transparency.
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26 Articles
26 Articles
Koco News5+23 Reposted by 23 other sources
USDA's cost-cutting relocations raise service disruption concerns
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says shifting thousands of D.C.-based staff to regional offices will save money without interrupting critical services. Previous relocations suggest otherwise.
·Oklahoma City, United States
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Leaning Left0Leaning Right0Center24Last UpdatedBias Distribution100% Center
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