A trio of senators want answers about the Trump administrationās plans to relocate two scientific agencies outside the Washington, D.C., metro area, a decision they called āabrupt.ā
In a letter to the heads of the Agriculture Department and the General Services Administration, Sens. Tom Carper, D-Del., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., said they wanted to specifically know about costs, the reason for the relocation and a timeline for the move of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Economic Research Service.
āWe are concerned that the Administrationās plans to relocate these agencies will hamper the ability of the agencies to achieve their important research missions, add unnecessary expenses, increase staff turnover, and hinder the recruitment and retention of staff at NIFA and ERS,āthe senators wrote.
Announced in August, the relocation aims to consolidate USDAās workforce and āhelp ensure USDA is the most effective, most efficient, and most customer-focused agency in the federal government, allowing us to be closer to our stakeholders and move our resources closer to our customers,ā USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said May 3.