July 25, 2025
USDA Secretary Rollins orders relocation or resignation for 2,600 employees
Rollins pushes move that unions warn will disrupt services
🚜Agriculture👷Labor
On July 24, 2025, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced she will move about 2,600 of USDA’s 4,600 Washington, D.C., employees to five regional hubs in Salt Lake City, Fort Collins, Indianapolis, Kansas City, and Raleigh. She says the reorganization will cut costs, reduce a $1.3 billion maintenance backlog, and bring staff closer to farmers.
Federal unions and lawmakers warn the plan could disrupt research, food safety inspections, and forest management.
USDA relocating 2,600 of 4,600 DC employees to five regional hubs on July 24, 2025
Hubs in Salt Lake City, Fort Collins, Indianapolis, Kansas City, and Raleigh
Reorganization aims to cut costs and reduce $1.3 billion maintenance backlog
Federal unions warn of disruption to research and food safety inspections
Transition could trigger $50 million in relocation costs
Moving staff may leave rural communities without USDA support
Fewer experts in DC means less technical input on farming policy
🚜Agriculture👷Labor
People, bills, and sources
What You Can Do
1
Track inspection schedules for food safety in your area
2
Call county USDA office to voice concerns about service impacts
3
Ask representative for oversight of $50 million transition costs
4
Email senators demanding impact studies before relocation
5
Submit testimony to House Agriculture Committee by July 31
6
Attend August 5 oversight hearing in Washington DC