Judge Stops USDA’s Radical Restructuring, For Now

Yesterday, a judge intervened in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) sweeping restructuring plan, halting its efforts until December 11. The USDA had proposed moving the U.S. Forest Service's headquarters to Salt Lake City, closing 23 research facilities, and relocating thousands of employees from Washington D.C. to offices in several other states.

While agency secretary Brooke L. Rollins claimed the restructure did not entail workforce reductions, the RIF and Reorganization Plan confirmed that the workforce would be cut by 23%, earning the plan a nickname: "RIF in disguise."

The lawsuit, filed by unions, nonprofits, cities, and counties, contended that the USDA violated the law by using Congressional appropriations funds for purposes not originally intended. The appropriations funds were meant to support specific projects, not office closures or employee relocations. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria granted a preliminary injunction, preventing the USDA from proceeding with the plan until further notice.

This injunction essentially asks the current status quo to be maintained until a final ruling is made.

Judge Chhabria emphasized that the USDA's actions posed a risk to programs critical to many Americans, including the Food and Nutrition Administration's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the U.S. Forest Service's wildfire prevention and response efforts. However, he also noted that the relief could be temporary, as the applicable appropriations statutes are set to expire in less than two months.

This means that the USDA could attempt to restructure offices and relocate employees once Congress appropriates new funds for such initiatives.