USDA’s reorganization plan moves 2,600 of the 4,600 USDA jobs in the Washington, D.C. area to five regional hubs in Raleigh, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Fort Collins and Salt Lake City. Congress received notice about this plan at the same time as USDA employees. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden said he understood the congressional concerns over that timing; however, “the employees are the ones who are most directly affected by the Secretary’s decision; out of common courtesy and respect, they should hear that decision from the Secretary first and not from a leak that originates from somewhere else.” Vaden said the average cost of a home in Washington, D.C. is close to a million dollars, making it unaffordable for the typical USDA employee.
