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Three-quarters of USDA researchers tapped to relocate tell union they’re not going
Federal News Network ^ | 5/7/26 | Jory Heckman

Posted on 05/10/2026 4:50:43 AM PDT by cotton1706

The Agriculture Department is embarking on a multi-part plan to relocate employees across its component agencies outside of the Washington, D.C. area.

USDA is moving many more jobs across the country than it did under the first Trump administration, but expects fewer employees will turn down relocation offers this time around.

However, two unions representing impacted USDA employees say the relocations will cause more disruption than department leaders anticipate.

For the second time in seven years, USDA is looking to move D.C.-based employees at the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to Kansas City.

(Excerpt) Read more at federalnewsnetwork.com ...


TOPICS: Government; US: District of Columbia; US: Kansas
KEYWORDS: districtofcolumbia; elections; joryheckman; kansas; kansascity; labor; usda
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There are NO farms in the DC area.
1 posted on 05/10/2026 4:50:43 AM PDT by cotton1706
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To: cotton1706

This is an agency I don’t think we really need. Just close it down.


2 posted on 05/10/2026 4:51:58 AM PDT by Twotone (Sometimes I wrestle with my demons. Sometimes we just snuggle.)
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To: cotton1706

Wonderful, the more resignations the better.

“We ain’t gonna smell no stinkin’ cows!”


3 posted on 05/10/2026 4:55:29 AM PDT by Aevery_Freeman (Islam extends a beggar's palm - whilst hiding the bloody fist! ~ a Minnesotan)
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To: cotton1706

“ There are NO farms in the DC area.”

That’s not true. There are very large USDA research farms just north of DC.


4 posted on 05/10/2026 4:56:19 AM PDT by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.)
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To: cotton1706

Move all the agencies.

Move everyone to North Dakota. We need smaller government.


5 posted on 05/10/2026 4:56:55 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: cotton1706

They won’t move? Good! Fire them.

Roll this plan out across the federal government. Depopulate DC.


6 posted on 05/10/2026 4:57:16 AM PDT by FLT-bird
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To: cotton1706
two unions representing impacted USDA employees say the relocations will cause more disruption than department leaders anticipate.

That's meant as a threat

7 posted on 05/10/2026 4:59:39 AM PDT by aynrandfreak (Being a Democrat means never having to say you're sorry)
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To: ClearCase_guy

“Move everyone to North Dakota.”

That’s good farm land.

I say move them to Newark, NJ


8 posted on 05/10/2026 5:01:05 AM PDT by Justa (Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people....)
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To: cotton1706

Kansas City area should provide a better quality of life than DC area.


9 posted on 05/10/2026 5:03:46 AM PDT by vaskypilot
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To: cotton1706
Anyone remember the somewhat humorous meaning of IBM?

I've been moved. It was a real strategy to offer a new position where IBM and other corporations wanted their employee. The new position 'over there' is replacing the one 'here.' Worked to motivate relocation of talent and abilities.

10 posted on 05/10/2026 5:08:33 AM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Twotone

“ This is an agency I don’t think we really need. Just close it down.”

Everyone needs food and clothing and construction material, and that research is generally good. Some of the programs supporting farming, which is a risky and often unpredictable undertaking, through loans, insurance, and subsidies are also good.

That said, the USDA has done plenty of boneheaded things and enabled huge fraud and wasteful spending, enough so that its reputation has been badly hurt. It also is involved in programs that should be under other departments control, such as WICS, SNAP, and gasohol.


11 posted on 05/10/2026 5:10:02 AM PDT by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.)
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To: cotton1706

I dated an Hispanic girl in the 70’s who worked for usda. She answered the phone “poultry and dairy”. I remember thinking “then what”?! I have a question about chickens?


12 posted on 05/10/2026 5:10:42 AM PDT by albie
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To: VanShuyten

That’s not true. There are very large USDA research farms just north of DC.

That’s just a playground for them ,LOL


13 posted on 05/10/2026 5:12:12 AM PDT by butlerweave (Fateh)
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To: VanShuyten

Welfare programs like WICS, SNAP, and gasohol should only be at the state level. The Federal Gov’t should not be involved. And I don’t think it’s up to gov’t to fund research, either. That’s for businesses & universities.

We have to get our federal budget under control. It’s quite obvious, at least to me, the FedGov cannot be trusted with these activities.


14 posted on 05/10/2026 5:12:30 AM PDT by Twotone (Sometimes I wrestle with my demons. Sometimes we just snuggle.)
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To: vaskypilot

“Kansas City area should provide a better quality of life than DC area.”

Not without all the fancy bars where they can drool over Obama.


15 posted on 05/10/2026 5:15:53 AM PDT by cotton1706
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To: cotton1706
"There are NO farms in the DC area."

DC bureaucrats believe that All farms are belong to them.

Just like the Dept of Education think that our children are THEIR children.

16 posted on 05/10/2026 5:22:10 AM PDT by Psalm 73 ("You'll never hear surf music again" - J. Hendrix)
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To: cotton1706

I think that’s the idea. Good luck finding jobs in DC.


17 posted on 05/10/2026 5:23:44 AM PDT by cyclotic (Don’t be part of the problem. Be the entire problem)
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To: Twotone

I agree. any sort of federal office should only be for monitoring money being spent by the state. you do not need a verry big office to monitor state agencies spending of federal moneys.


18 posted on 05/10/2026 5:25:14 AM PDT by PCPOET7 (`)
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To: cotton1706

Move them to the most miserable of the unsalvageable blue states. No sense in turning a red state even a bit purple.


19 posted on 05/10/2026 5:28:04 AM PDT by Vesuvian
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To: VanShuyten

I think you answered your own question in the negative when you said “research farms”, aka not a real working farm.

CC


20 posted on 05/10/2026 5:28:11 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam!)
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