USDA is closing buildings, relocating staff, and downsizing—a lot
Summary
Marion Nestle reports that the USDA is closing the South Building, relocating thousands of staff to regional hubs, and downsizing in the Washington, DC area as part of a broader reorganization. The piece cites multiple outlets (Reuters, GovExec, Agriculture.com) to outline the plan, and warns of potential negative impacts on food assistance programs and the loss of expertise from relocated agencies like the Economic Research Service, arguing the move could undermine public policy capacity.