Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a major reorganization plan that includes relocating a significant portion of its federal workforce to five regional hubs, restructuring regional offices, and consolidating operations. Secretary Rollins stated that the move aims to "ensure USDA is located closer to the people it serves,” with thousands of employees shifting from the Washington, D.C. area to:
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- Salt Lake City, Utah
For the National Organic Program (NOP) — which has already experienced substantial staff departures through the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and voluntary early retirements — this relocation could lead to future attrition. The potential loss of experienced personnel threatens to erode institutional knowledge and weaken a workforce dedicated to advancing organic agriculture in the U.S.
USDA is accepting public comments on the reorganization plan through August 26. To provide feedback, email reorganizaton@usda.gov.