The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially opened a public comment period on its recently announced department reorganization plan, signaling a significant structural shift intended to decentralize operations and increase efficiency. The plan, unveiled in July, is part of a broader initiative backed by President Trump to move portions of the federal government outside the National Capital Region.
According to the USDA:
“The reorganization proposal reflects President Trump’s commitment to relocate federal agencies beyond the national capital region, reduce bureaucracy, and strengthen USDA’s presence in key agricultural regions across the country.”
The reorganization plan includes the closure of the USDA South Building in Washington, D.C., and the relocation of approximately 2,600 Washington-based positions to five new regional hubs:
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- Salt Lake City, Utah
In testimony delivered on July 30th, Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden emphasized the goals of the plan:
“President Trump made clear his second term would include relocating the sprawling federal bureaucracy to locations outside the National Capital Region. The department’s July 24 memorandum begins to deliver on this promise and does so in a way that right-sizes the USDA footprint, eliminates unnecessary management layers, consolidates redundant or duplicative functions, and, most importantly, allows USDA to deliver on its mission to the American people within the bounds of its available financial resources.”
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins issued the memorandum formalizing the proposal and delegating authority to the Deputy Secretary. The memo highlights the importance of efficiency, geographic diversity, and long-term sustainability in USDA operations.
The public comment period is open through August 26, and the USDA encourages stakeholders, agricultural producers, and the public to submit feedback.
Comments can be submitted via email to: reorganization@usda.gov.
This USDA reorganization plan represents one of the most significant federal agency restructuring efforts in recent history, aiming to reduce bureaucracy, streamline services, and ensure that key agricultural regions have better access to USDA resources.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.