USDA IG Latest to Wade Into ERS/NIFA Moving Plans

The controversy over the administration's plans to move two key USDA agencies has taken yet another turn, with an internal department official set to look at the situation.USDA's inspector general (IG) will look at whether USDA followed proper steps in its plan to move the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) outside of the Washington, D.C., area.The review was requested by House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., to USDA IG Phyllis Fong.In that initial letter, the lawmakers questioned whether "USDA has the legal and budget authority to execute the relocation and reorganization of these two important agencies without additional authority being provided by Congress."While agreeing to review the matter the IG said it would focus on two issues raised by Hoyer and Norton. First, it will "determine USDA’s legal and budgetary authority to execute a) the realignment of the Economic Research Service (ERS) under the Office of the Chief Economist and b) the relocation of ERS and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) offices."