USDA to downsize DC footprint, relocating positions in sweeping reorganization

The Department of Agriculture plans to cut a significant portion of its workforce and relocate many remaining employees out of Washington, DC, in one of the most aggressive reorganizations in its history, Government Executive reported.

USDA will consolidate operations into three yet-to-be-named regional hubs and divest one of its two downtown D.C. headquarters buildings—likely the Agriculture South Building or James L. Witten Federal Building, located on Independence Avenue SW.

The department, which employs more than 100,000 people, began notifying staff last week of broad restructuring plans, including a second round of voluntary buyouts that expired Tuesday. The final size of the reduction in force remains unclear, but officials say the cuts will largely target duplicative support functions.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins previewed the move earlier this year, describing an “aggressive plan” to modernize USDA’s operations, reduce its federal footprint, and shift talent into rural communities. Speaking in February, Rollins said the agency aims to “allow our nation’s heartland to flourish” by pushing more jobs outside the Beltway.

The agency will also decline to renew many of its field office leases, further consolidating staff into the three planned regional hubs. While USDA has not confirmed which headquarters building it will vacate, the two structures combined have an assessed value of $1 billion and sit adjacent to the National Mall.

The downsizing aligns with the broader goals of the Department of Government Efficiency, which has overseen major reorganizations across federal agencies during President Trump’s second term.