USDA Releases List of Possible Service Relocation Sites

(WASHINGTON, DC) In an effort to reduce government costs and attract more talent, USDA has been working to relocate the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) out of Washington, DC. Initially, there were 136 Expressions of Interest received from across 35 states. On Tuesday however, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the list has been reduced to 67 possible locations following a rigorous site selection process from USDA, ERS, and NIFA leadership. “Relocation will help ensure that USDA is the most effective, most efficient, and most customer-focused agency in the federal government, allowing us to be closer to our stakeholders and move our resources closer to our customers” Perdue explained. USDA applied a set of guiding principles including USDA travel requirements, labor force statistics, work hours most compatible with all USDA office schedules. The plan has been met with some opposition by members of Congress, specifically, Rep. Marcia Fudge (OH-D) has charged Perdue with violating Congressional intent and has even co-sponsored legislation (HR 1221, the “Agriculture Research Integrity Act”) that would prevent the relocation of federal agriculture research agencies.