Agriculture Department to close 259 offices

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Category: Business
• Topics: Business

Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to close 259 offices nationwide as part of a program to cut costs and improve service.

In a statement that coincided with the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced changes to his agency worth about $150 million in savings every year.

The measures, which had been expected, will reduce the agency’s workforce by more than 7,000 employees. Apart from the domestic closures, seven international offices will be shuttered.

The restructuring follows a department-wide review of operations that recommended consolidating 700 cell phone contracts into about 10.

Since 2010, Congress has cut the USDA’s discretionary spending by $3 billion, or 12 percent.

“The USDA, like families and businesses across the country, cannot continue to operate like we did 50 years ago,” Vilsack said. “We must innovate, modernize, and be better stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars.”

Agriculture is the second most productive sector of the U.S. economy, providing one in 12 jobs nationwide and leaving a $42 billion farm trade surplus after producing $137.4 billion worth of exports.

The closures involve offices and laboratories that are either not staffed or are staffed by no more than two employees. Other facilities are located within 20 miles of other offices.

Among those affected are 131 Farm Service Agency offices. In addition, 15 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service offices in 11 states, and five offices of the agency abroad will be shuttered. The APHIS will be left with about 560 domestic offices and 55 abroad.

Vilsack assured that the quality of service will not be sacrificed with the changes, citing available technology. “American agriculture is currently experiencing its most productive period in history thanks to the resiliency, resourcefulness and efficiency of our farmers,” he said. “As we move forward, USDA will continue to find ways to modernize its services.”

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