Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman expressed disappointment on Thursday regarding Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ announcement of a significant reorganization within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Boozman criticized Rollins for not providing prior notice about the sweeping changes, stating he will schedule hearings to discuss the implications of the reorganization.
In his correspondence with The Hagstrom Report, Boozman emphasized the importance of collaboration in serving the agricultural community.
“The best way to serve our agriculture community is by working together, so it’s disappointing USDA didn’t share its plans in advance of this announcement,” he said.
Boozman is committed to examining the details of the proposed changes closely and looks forward to a discussion with Secretary Rollins during the upcoming hearing.
In a similar vein, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the ranking member on the Senate Agriculture Committee, voiced concerns about the impact of the reorganization on the USDA’s ability to provide essential services.
Klobuchar warned that such a large-scale restructuring could undermine the expertise that farmers and families depend on.
“I have serious doubts that the administration adequately considered the impact of this move on research and on services for farmers and rural Americans, particularly after the loss of over 15,000 employees in the past six months,” Klobuchar remarked.
She is calling for the USDA to come before Congress to explain the rationale behind its reorganization plans, especially against the backdrop of high tariffs on farmers, reduced SNAP benefits, and cuts to research funding.
Klobuchar characterized the proposal as half-baked, indicating that it was made without consultation with leading agricultural senators.
“This half-baked proposal will set us back,” she asserted.
Rep. Angie Craig, the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, echoed similar sentiments, criticizing the lack of communication from the administration regarding the planned changes.
Craig argued that the decision to move forward without input from Congress or key stakeholders reflects a failure to learn from past experiences that resulted in detrimental consequences for USDA and its workforce.
She recalled the prior relocation of USDA’s Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which led to a significant decline in employee retention and productivity.
“To expect different results for the rest of USDA is foolish and naive,” she stated.
Craig affirmed that farmers would bear the brunt of these changes through diminished quality and quantity of service from the USDA.
Demanding immediate action, Craig called upon House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson to convene a hearing swiftly to address the issues arising from the reorganization plan, seeking transparency about the data and analysis that informed the decision-making.
She referenced a 2023 study by the Government Accountability Office, which evaluated the fallout from previous relocations within USDA, underscoring the need for thorough analysis and stakeholder consultation in any future restructuring efforts.
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