Trump Administration’s Reckless Reorganization of USDA - CleanTechnica

The Trump administration has initiated a controversial reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), relocating approximately 2,600 employees from the Washington, D.C. headquarters to five regional hubs across the country, including Fort Collins, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Salt Lake City, and Raleigh. Additionally, the administration plans to close several research facilities and eliminate the U.S. Forest Service’s nine regional offices. This move has drawn bipartisan criticism in Congress due to the lack of prior notification and concerns over the impact on the USDA’s operational effectiveness. This reorganization comes amid significant budget and staffing cuts to the USDA, with the proposed FY26 budget threatening to reduce the department’s workforce by nearly one-third, including drastic reductions in wildland fire management and national forest system staff. Environmental groups like the Sierra Club have condemned the changes, characterizing them as part of a broader effort to dismantle the agency and pave the way for privatization. The Sierra Club emphasizes that these cuts undermine the USDA’s