News

USDA to close 259 offices

In an effort to cut spending, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced his “Blueprint for Stronger Service” plan for the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday. Speaking to the American Farm Bureau annual meeting in Hawaii, the Secretary outlined the plan which includes closing 259 domestic offices, facilities and labs across the United States as well as seven foreign offices.

Specifically the plan affects USDA in Washington, 46 states and 1 territory:

• Farm Service Agency (FSA): Consolidate 131 county offices in 32 states; more than 2,100 FSA offices remain throughout the United States
• Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS): Close 2 country offices; more than 95 FAS offices remain throughout the world
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS): Close 15 APHIS offices in 11 states and 5 APHIS offices in 5 foreign countries; more than 560 APHIS offices remain throughout the United States and 55 remain throughout the world
• Rural Development (RD): Close 43 area and sub offices in 17 states and U.S. territories; approximately 450 RD offices remain throughout the United States
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Close 24 soil survey offices in 21 states; more than 2,800 NRCS offices remain throughout the United States
• Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS): Close 5 district offices in 5 states; 10 district offices remain throughout the United States
• Agricultural Research Service (ARS): Close 12 programs at 10 locations; more than 240 programs remain throughout the United States
• Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services (FNCS): Close 31 field offices in 28 states; 32 FNCS offices will remain throughout the United States

Vilsack says the plan also includes more than 130 other recommendations which will improve efficiencies and reduce redundancies in the agency. When fully implemented, the Secretary says the plan will save “about $150 million annually.” Vilsack says, “The end result is a plan that will create optimal use of USDA’s employees, better results for USDA customers, and greater efficiencies for American taxpayers.”

A state-by-state listing of scheduled closings available here:

AUDIO: Vilsack talks about the plan 2:16 mp3