Unions Move to Block USDA Overhaul After 23% Staff-Cut Plan Predicts Mass Resignations
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 6
Unions Move to Block USDA Overhaul After 23% Staff-Cut Plan Predicts Mass Resignations
1 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 6
Summary
New court motions filed in California seek to stop USDA’s reorganization after internal planning documents showed the department aimed to cut about 23,177 jobs, or 23% of its workforce.
Those documents, submitted late Wednesday, say many employees are expected to refuse geographic reassignments, reinforcing unions’ argument that the plan would gut the agency rather than improve efficiency.
About 2,600 Washington-area positions are slated to move to regional hubs, with employees expected to relocate this summer; workers who decline would effectively resign or retire under USDA’s plan.
USDA also said it would review how many employees already took buyouts to decide in coming weeks whether further downsizing is needed, adding to concerns about deeper staffing losses.