FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: Transparency and Oversight Needed to Ensure New USDA Reorganization Avoids Disrupted Services for Farmers, Processors, and the Public

Washington, DC, April 23, 2026 – Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the reorganization of the Research, Education, and Extension (REE) and Food Safety mission areas. This reorganization will move over 200 technical and administrative staff from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) out of the National Capital Region (NCR), relocate staff from the Economic Research Service (ERS), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and the National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) staff to St. Louis or Kansas City, and close one of USDA’s historic research centers, the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC). 

While the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) supports USDA’s stated goals of enhancing effectiveness, accountability, and service delivery, USDA’s reorganization plans lack transparency and have disregarded input from farmers and the general public. Previous reorganizations have led to loss of staff and knowledge, and with REE and FSIS already struggling with staffing, the advancement of USDA’s reorganization plan risks undermining their core functions.  

“The 2019 relocation of ERS and NIFA drained talent and crippled productivity, conditions now at risk of being repeated. The further relocation of ERS, NIFA, and NASS staff will likely bring about service disruptions and a greater loss of institutional knowledge. In addition, despite the significant public feedback to the contrary, the reorganization would close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, disrupting decades of invaluable agricultural research,” said Nick Rossi, NSAC Policy Specialist.

“The relocation of FSIS personnel was entirely absent from the USDA Reorganization plan in 2025. Without stakeholder input and proper forewarning, this abrupt relocation could lead to service disruptions for inspection personnel, undermining initiatives to support small and very small processors. We look forward to further public documentation explaining how this move will support these processors,” said Connor Kippe, NSAC Policy Specialist.

In September 2025, NSAC submitted feedback to USDA during a public comment period regarding the Reorganization Plan.

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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more: https://sustainableagriculture.net/