A coalition of labor unions, nonprofit organizations and local governments is asking a federal judge to block USDA's planned reorganization, arguing the changes would significantly reduce the agency's ability to serve farmers and rural communities. Reuters said the lawsuit challenges USDA's plan to relocate more than 2,500 Washington-based employees to regional offices across the country. Plaintiffs argue many workers will choose to resign rather than relocate, leading to major staffing losses. According to internal USDA planning documents, the reorganization could reduce the department's workforce by more than 23,000 employees, or roughly 23 percent. USDA has acknowledged many employees are expected to decline relocation offers. The coalition says the resulting workforce losses could disrupt farmer assistance programs, nutrition services, food safety efforts, and agricultural research. E & E News said the case, filed in federal court in San Francisco, asks a judge to temporarily halt the reorganization while the legal challenge moves forward.
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