The Trump administration is executing a massive downsizing of the USDA, with 15,000 employees already gone through voluntary separation programs. The department plans to shrink its Washington-area workforce from 4,600 to 2,000 employees by relocating staff to regional hubs in North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana, Colorado, and Utah.

A key element involves disposing of the aging South Building across from the National Mall, projected to save taxpayers $1.6 billion. The Food and Nutrition Service, which administers food assistance programs, currently occupies one of the buildings slated for closure. This mirrors a 2019 relocation of the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture to Kansas City that resulted in both agencies losing over half their staff.

Critics warn this reorganization threatens USDA's effectiveness. When asked for feedback, 82% of respondents expressed negativity about the plan, citing concerns about brain drain and disruption to farmer-support programs. The Economic Research Service, once considered a national treasure for credible food policy analysis, has never fully recovered from previous relocations. While USDA claims the FNS will remain in the DC area, the broader consolidation raises questions about the administration's commitment to maintaining robust federal food assistance infrastructure.