Congressman Subramanyam Leads Investigation of USDA’s Relocation and Reorganization Plan
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia, and Government Operations Subcommittee Ranking Member Kweisi Mfume led a letter to Secretary Brooke Rollins of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) demanding answers regarding the planned and forced relocation of USDA functions and personnel outside of the National Capital Region. USDA announced this reorganization on July 24, 2025, which will mandate the closure of several USDA facilities in the area and the relocation of over 2,500 employees from D.C. to new work sites across the country.
In the letter, the members stressed the critical role of USDA in ensuring the safety of our food and natural resources, along with supporting our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. They demanded that Secretary Rollins provide additional information regarding what analysis USDA had conducted to ensure this plan is in the best interest of USDA, the rural communities it serves, and the American taxpayer. The members said:
“The ability of USDA to fulfill its mission is critical not only to our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, but also to ensuring the safety of our food and natural resources. Given the Department’s lack of consultation with Congress to date regarding this reorganization plan, we are deeply concerned that this relocation, like many other reorganization efforts attempted by this administration, is being implemented without appropriate study of the costs and benefits to USDA or the American people.”
The members cited agency moves undertaken during the first Trump administration as cautionary tales about the costs of poorly planned relocations. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the agencies that were relocated had reduced productivity and USDA was left with a less experienced workforce as more than half of each agency’s employees chose to leave instead of relocating. GAO found that it took USDA two years to recover from the upheaval caused by the move and that best practices, including proactive consultation with agency employees, were not followed.
The members stressed that given USDA’s critical role in our food system and agricultural industries, Congress must understand both the details and goals of USDA’s planned reorganization and have an analysis underpinning those plans. They requested information concerning any cost-benefit analyses and communications with employees and stakeholders USDA has conducted to justify this reorganization plan no later than August 21, 2025.
Earlier this year, Congressman Subramanyam and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the COST of Relocations Act to fight back against President Trump’s relentless effort to relocate federal agencies and decimate their workforces. The legislation would require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress in order to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agency’s mission.
The members were joined by members of the House Oversight Committee and representatives from the National Capital Region including Representatives Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA-8), Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Steny Hoyer (D-MD-5), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-4), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8), Steven Lynch (D-MA-8), April McClain Delaney (D-MD-6), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-4), Dave Min (D-CA-47), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-3), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12).
The text of the letter can be found here.
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