The Department of Agriculture (USDA) Thursday announced it would move some jobs out of Washington, D.C. under a realignment plan. The agency says the moves are intended to “improve customer service, strengthen offices and programs, and save taxpayer dollars.”
As per the announcement, The Economic Research Service, currently under USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics mission area, will realign with the Office of the Chief Economist under the Office of the Secretary. Additionally, most employees of ERS and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture will be relocated outside of Washington, DC. The movement of the employees is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. New locations have yet to be determined, and it is possible that the two may be co-located when their new homes are found.
The movement of the Economic Research Service under the Office of Chief Economist, according to USDA “simply makes sense because the two have similar missions.”
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says the changes “are more steps down the path to better service to our customers.”
Source: National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.