Senate hearing probes USDA plan to move 2,600 headquarters jobs to five regional hubs

Chairman Bozeman convened the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on short notice to review the Department of Agriculture’s reorganization proposal and to question how it will affect services to farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

The central element of the proposal, Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden told the committee, is “relocating 2,600 employees from the National Capital Region to 5 hubs around the country.” Vaden said the move is intended to reduce costs, improve service by putting more employees closer to the field and to address a congressional requirement on building occupancy. “Not a single one of USDA's buildings in the National Capital Region meet this congressionally mandated 60% occupancy rate,” he said, citing the USE IT Act as the legal driver for consolidation.

Why it…