By Audrey Jackson
Reuter’s Daniel Wiessner reported that, “a group of unions, nonprofits and U.S. municipalities has asked a federal judge to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s planned reorganization, including the relocation of more than 2,500 employees based in the District of Columbia.”
“The coalition of plaintiffs said in ?a filing in San Francisco federal court late Wednesday that the plan announced earlier this year would hinder the USDA’s ability to provide nutritional assistance to women and children, support farmers and ensure the safety of the food supply, among other critical functions,” Wiessner reported. “Led by the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal worker union, the plaintiffs asked U.S. District ?Judge Susan Illston to block the USDA from implementing its reorganization plan pending further litigation.”
Reorganization Would Cut 23% of USDA Workforce
E&E News’ reporters Hassan Ali Kanu and Grace Yarrow reported that, “the reorganization was intended to reduce USDA’s workforce ‘by approximately 23,177 which is a 23% overall reduction,’ according to the 2025 internal planning documents. Officials added that they expect that ‘a significant number of employees will decline geographic reassignments.’ Thousands of USDA employees across the country took buyout offers last year, and unions have warned that most employees who declined buyout offers would also decline offers to relocate.”
Source : illinois.edu