Senators from agricultural states pressed Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden about the reorganization’s effect on USDA research agencies and field laboratories, citing past relocations that lawmakers and the Government Accountability Office found disrupted outputs and staffing.

Ranking Member Senator Amy Klobuchar highlighted previous moves of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and cited a GAO finding that ERS produced fewer reports and NIFA took longer to process grants after the earlier relocation. Several senators said research attrition has already been severe: the transcript records lawmakers saying “1,600 employees have already left USDA research agencies.”

Vaden’s response: Vaden said “91 of 94 ARS research labs are unaffected by the secretary’s memorandum,” and that the plan “states in its plain text that what will go on in Beltsville will take place over a period of years and in a way that does not interfere with any ongoing research.” He also told the committee that regionally important centers such as Stoneville, Mississippi, were being considered for retention: "because of the important research that is actually conducted there, I believe at the current time, USDA's plan, subject of course to consultation with you, is for the staff to remain there."

Why senators pressed the point: Senators emphasized that area offices and administrative support at sites such as Stoneville provide management, funding oversight and local partnerships that support 60 research units and hundreds of scientists across multi‑state regions. One senator provided detail on Stoneville’s scale: “60 research units, 1,500 employees including nearly 500 scientists and a $358,000,000 annual budget.”

Follow up requested: Senators asked for agency‑level staffing breakdowns, vacancy and turnover numbers for research and lab facilities, and assurances that ongoing disease response work—such as avian influenza, screw worm controls and spotted lanternfly efforts—would not be interrupted. Vaden said he would provide data and reiterated the department’s aim to avoid disrupting active research.

Ending: The department will supply committee staff with further detail as consultation continues; no formal agency reorganization decisions affecting specific labs were announced at the hearing.