As USDA continues to move more jobs across the country, the organization expects fewer employees will turn down relocation offers this time around.
When USDA relocated hundreds of Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) positions to Kansas City in 2019, about 85% of impacted employees quit their jobs or retired, rather than relocate, reports Federal News Network.
The American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403, representing USDA researchers, expects to see similar results this year, the article says. An internal survey found that 76% of its members have indicated they are not planning to relocate. AFGE Local 3403 said in a statement that these relocations, which are expected to go into effect by the end of the summer, will trigger a “brain drain” within the department.
The goal is to move research closer to the farmers, ranchers and rural communities who benefit from it, USDA points out.
What the FSIS Reorganization Means to You
USDA announced a reorganization of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on April 23 to modernize operations, streamline support functions and better align the agency with the nation’s agricultural landscape.
As part of this effort, USDA will establish a new National Food Safety Center (NFSC) in Urbandale, Iowa, which will serve as the primary hub for FSIS administrative, technical and support operations.
“This is about building a stronger, more resilient food safety system for the country,” says U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “By establishing a National Food Safety Center in Iowa and expanding our scientific capabilities, USDA is ensuring that the Food Safety and Inspection Service is positioned where it can best support American agriculture and protect public health. These changes reflect our commitment to modernizing the department while staying focused on delivering results for the American people.”
Dwight Mogler, an Iowa pig farmer, believes this is a positive move for U.S. agriculture and is an efficient allocation of resources.
“I get pumped when we can highlight positive things that are going on in the U.S. pork industry,” Mogler says. “The closer farms are to government entities that regulate us, the more apt they are to not only serve us from a place of understanding, but also improve their agility to recognize and respond to a crisis in real time. Proximity matters.”
Deputy Secretary Stephen A. Vaden says this approach ensures that resources are used efficiently while maintaining the high standards the public expects from our food safety system.
A Central Hub for Food Safety Operations
FSIS plans to repurpose existing USDA space in Urbandale, Iowa, to establish the new National Food Safety Center (NFSC), which will become the agency’s largest office in the U.S. with approximately 200 employees.
The NFSC will serve as FSIS’ primary location for headquarters support functions, including resource management, training, food safety education, financial operations, information technology and administrative services. By consolidating these functions in a centrally located hub, FSIS will reduce duplication, improve coordination and expand access to career opportunities for employees across the country.
The establishment of the NFSC marks a significant shift in the agency’s operational footprint, placing key functions closer to the agricultural and food production systems that FSIS regulates and supports.
Who Does Relocation Impact?
FSIS will also establish a Science Center in Athens, Ga., building on its existing Eastern Field Services Laboratory and expanding its capabilities in microbiology, chemistry and epidemiology. FSIS will also establish a presence in Fort Collins, Colo., for staff supporting international activities, further aligning the agency with USDA’s broader geographic footprint, USDA reports.
Under the reorganization, FSIS will relocate approximately two-thirds of its National Capital Region workforce to mission-critical locations, including the National Food Safety Center in Iowa and the Science Center in Georgia. Approximately 200 positions will be relocated from Washington D.C., while roughly 100 positions will remain to support congressional engagement, policy development and interagency coordination.
The reorganization does not impact FSIS’ frontline inspection workforce, representing 85% of employees and operating across more than 6,800 regulated establishments.
“All food safety inspection activities and public health protections will continue without interruption, and the reorganization does not include any reduction in force. All FSIS employees will retain positions within the agency,” USDA says.
