USDA to Relocate Staff to Five Regional Hubs

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced the relocation of thousands of USDA employees from Washington, D.C., reducing the National Capital Region workforce from about 4,600 to less than 2,000 as part of a cost-cutting reorganization. The relocated staff will move to new regional hubs in Raleigh, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Fort Collins, and Salt Lake City. Rollins claims this move will streamline operations and better serve farmers, ranchers, and producers, but critics warn it could disrupt services, diminish institutional knowledge, and result in salary cuts for some employees. The plan has drawn bipartisan concern over a lack of congressional consultation and the risk to USDA's ability to deliver essential services. Congressional hearings have been called to examine the decision. Rollins insists the transition will not interrupt critical USDA services, though skepticism remains among lawmakers and advocacy groups.