On Wednesday, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to discuss last week’s USDA decentralization announcement.
“I am extremely concerned about the harm that this reorganization will have on USDA research,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said.
This plan includes moving more than half of the 4,600 USDA workers to regional offices and closing four buildings in Washington. Vaden said the department will save approximately $4 billion as a result.
By relocating to regional offices, the agency will be able to pay employees less, in accordance with the federal pay scale. The department also would not have to pay maintenance fees on the buildings in Washington.
Klobuchar recalled the relocation of the Economic Research Service and the National
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!