News Summary
The USDA plans to relocate thousands of federal jobs from Washington, D.C. to regional hubs, including Kansas City. The move aims to streamline operations, cut costs, and address staffing issues. However, potential job losses and consolidations may affect employees as the reorganization unfolds. This initiative underscores the government’s efforts to enhance efficiency while maintaining essential services.
Kansas City, MO – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is set to initiate a major restructuring plan that will relocate thousands of federal jobs from Washington, D.C. to regional hubs, including Kansas City, Missouri, and four other cities: Raleigh, North Carolina, Indianapolis, Indiana, Fort Collins, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah. This move is part of the Trump administration’s broader initiative aimed at streamlining the federal workforce and reducing expenses for taxpayers.
Under the new plan, a couple thousand existing USDA positions will be moved from Washington, D.C. with the potential removal of up to 2,600 positions from the nation’s capital. The USDA has not yet specified how many jobs will be transferred to Kansas City specifically. This realignment is expected to benefit the agency financially, as employees in these regional hubs will be compensated at lower salary rates due to the reduced cost of living in these areas. For instance, a USDA employee with a master’s degree currently earns about $69,000 a year in Washington but could earn around $62,000 in Kansas City.
Notably, the restructuring will also include possible consolidation of positions during the relocation process. Employees affected by these changes will be informed about the potential impacts in the coming months. The USDA has experienced staffing issues in the past; after its last move to Kansas City, hundreds of positions remained vacant.
In recent developments, over 15,300 USDA employees have opted to participate in the government’s deferred resignation program, which translates to a roughly 15% reduction in the overall workforce of approximately 100,000 employees. Currently, the USDA has around 4,600 staff members working in the National Capital Region.
The restructuring represents the first phase of a comprehensive reorganization process, although no specific timeline has been provided. Additionally, employees in the agency will keep their service centers and laboratories located in cities such as St. Louis, Missouri, and Lincoln, Nebraska.
The USDA’s reorganization effort follows a critical review that labeled the agency as being “bloated” and “unsustainable.” Over the past four years, the USDA workforce has increased by 8%, with salary expenses rising by 14.5%. However, the department has not established a sustainable pay plan for its large number of employees.
USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins has emphasized that preserving essential health and public safety services will be a priority during the transition. As part of the move, the agency will vacate several buildings in Washington, D.C., including the South Building, Braddock Place, and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. The department plans to relocate to the USDA Whitten Building, Yates Building, and the National Agricultural Library.
This significant shift in USDA operations reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to cut costs and improve agency efficiency while maintaining critical services in agriculture, food safety, livestock management, national forest oversight, and efforts to tackle hunger issues across the country.
As the restructuring unfolds, stakeholders within the federal workforce and the communities of the regional hubs are watching closely to see how these changes will impact operations within the USDA as well as the livelihoods of its employees.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
USDA Announces Workforce Reorganization Plan
USDA Selects Kansas City as New Regional Hub
Major Federal Workforce Cuts Impact Kansas City
Kansas City Faces Job Cuts Amid Federal Workforce Changes
Additional Resources
- KCTV5
- Wikipedia: United States Department of Agriculture
- Kansas City Star
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Department of Agriculture
- KSHB
- Google Search: USDA reorganization
Author: STAFF HERE KANSAS CITY WRITER
The KANSAS CITY STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKansasCity.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Kansas City, Jackson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as American Royal World Series of Barbecue, Dia De Los Muertos, and Planet Anime Kansas City. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Kansas City, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and entertainment that power the local economy such as Children's Mercy Hospital, Government Employees Health Association, and AMC Entertainment. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREStLouis.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Missouri's dynamic landscape.
