USDA Restructures Food Safety and Research Operations, Shifting Workforce Beyond Washington
Plan relocates key agencies to Midwest and regional hubs while maintaining inspection workforce and expanding research footprint
The Trump administration announced a sweeping reorganization of USDA, relocating major components of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area outside the Washington, D.C. region to modernize operations and align staff more closely with agricultural production regions. Link to USDA release.
At the center of the changes is the creation of a new National Food Safety Center in Urbandale, Iowa, which will serve as the primary hub for FSIS administrative, technical, and support functions. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the move is designed to strengthen the nation’s food safety system while positioning the agency closer to the agricultural sector it supports. The Iowa facility, expected to house roughly 200 employees, will become the agency’s largest office, while additional restructuring will include a Science Center in Athens, Georgia, focused on expanding capabilities in microbiology, chemistry, and epidemiology.
USDA officials emphasized that the reorganization will not impact frontline inspection operations, which account for roughly 85% of FSIS personnel and cover more than 6,800 regulated establishments nationwide. No reductions in force are planned, and approximately 100 positions will remain in Washington to support policy and congressional engagement. Additional FSIS personnel tied to international operations will be positioned in Fort Collins, Colorado, further dispersing the agency’s footprint.
Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden said the restructuring is aimed at reducing duplication and improving accountability by consolidating support operations and better aligning staff with mission needs. FSIS Administrator Justin Ransom added that the changes are intended to enhance workforce support and training while improving recruitment of future food safety professionals.
Beyond food safety, the REE mission area will undergo significant shifts. The Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will relocate additional positions to Kansas City, reinforcing a move first initiated during the previous Trump administration. The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will also relocate certain Washington-based roles to St. Louis and other regional offices, while maintaining its nationwide data collection presence.
One of the most consequential changes involves the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), which will begin decommissioning the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland. Research programs housed at the facility will be redistributed across the country to better align with regional agricultural needs and modernize infrastructure, as many of the center’s more than 400 buildings are considered outdated or underutilized.
The reorganization is expected to expand research capacity in key agricultural states. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), who chairs the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, said North Dakota will gain 45 ARS employees and 10 research projects totaling approximately $28.5 million annually, with new projects distributed between Fargo and Grand Forks.
USDA officials framed the overhaul as part of a broader push to modernize the department, improve efficiency, and better connect federal research and regulatory functions with farmers and ranchers. The Office of the Chief Scientist will continue to oversee scientific integrity and leadership, while the REE Business Center is expected to expand its role in streamlining administrative operations across agencies.
