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The USDA move to regional hubs aims to bring the department closer to farmers.
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Indianapolis is one of five new hub locations announced for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA operations will move from the nation’s capital and spread out to five different hubs. The announcement also outlines plans to reduce or eliminate stand-alone regional offices.
Officials say the reorganization aims to bring the USDA closer to farmers and customers, eliminate bureaucracy and improve workforce priorities.
The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said in a memo that the move was made in response to an increase in employees over the past few years and addresses the high cost of living in D.C.. Rollins said USDA’s workforce grew by 8%, and employees’ salaries increased by 14.5%.
More than 15,000 employees have already left the department as part of the administration’s deferred resignation plan. Currently the department employs 4,600 people, most whom work in the D.C. area.
Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture Don Lamb said in a statement that Indiana is a strong location for a regional hub, in part because it is home to leading agriculture organizations, including Corteva Agriscience, Elanco Animal Health and Beck’s Hybrids.
“Indiana is an agriculture powerhouse, and we know this relocation will only strengthen our industry,” Lamb said.
The USDA has numerous programs to help feed people, it works with commercial farmers and livestock food production and helps to ensure food safety.
Other hub locations will be in North Carolina, Missouri, Colorado and Utah.
A statement from Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) says he led a group of stakeholders to D.C. to pitch Indiana as the best location.
Senator Todd Young (R-IN) applauded the move on social media. “Great to see these services move outside of DC and into places like Indiana that feed our nation,” Young said.
The first Trump administration moved some USDA offices to Kansas City, Missouri, and triggered an exodus of staff. Offices were later moved back to D.C.
Contact WFYI managing city editor Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org.
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