USDA Plans Relocation of Thousands to Five Regional Hubs Including Fort Collins

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is undergoing a significant reorganization that will relocate thousands of employees from the Washington, D.C. National Capital Region to five regional hubs, including Fort Collins, Colorado. This move aims to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and position employees closer to the communities they serve, with the USDA workforce having already decreased by about 15% through voluntary retirements and deferred resignation programs. Fort Collins has been highlighted as a major hub, consolidating various USDA functions such as the U.S. Forest Service research stations, and is expected to see a boost in agricultural-related employment, a development welcomed by Colorado Governor Jared Polis. The USDA emphasizes that critical services will continue without interruption and that this reorganization is not intended as a large-scale workforce reduction but a realignment to reduce redundancy. However, some critics express concern that the relocation could delay services and lead to the departure of key USDA workers unwilling to move. Secretary Brooke Rollins framed the changes as part of President Trump's commitment to streamline federal agencies and deliver services more effectively and affordably.