Notes: Congress members condemn USDA relocation plan affecting Alexandria

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A group of National Capital Region lawmakers on Friday sharply criticized the Trump administration’s plan to relocate USDA agencies, including the Food and Nutrition Service headquartered at 1320 Braddock Place in Alexandria, calling it “a betrayal of American farmers” and “an attack on the federal workforce.”

The criticism came one day after Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the department would vacate its Alexandria facility along with other Washington-area buildings, relocating thousands of employees to five hub cities across the country. The Alexandria facility houses critical nutrition assistance programs including SNAP and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.

“These haphazard, unlawful relocations do not save taxpayer dollars or improve agency efficiency,” said the joint statement from Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Donald Beyer Jr. (D-VA-08), and other regional lawmakers, along with Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD). “We’ve seen this tactic before, and we know that it only results in brain drain, crushed morale, and cuts to vital programs American farmers depend on.”

The lawmakers cited a Government Accountability Office study of previous USDA relocations during the first Trump administration, when the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture moved from Washington to Kansas City, Missouri. That study found the agencies lost more than a third of their permanent full-time staff and experienced significant productivity declines, with one agency taking over a month longer to process competitive grants.

The GAO also found USDA failed to follow leading practices for agency relocations, including consulting with employees and excluding key variables like employee attrition from its economic analysis. Staff with more than two years of experience declined from 83% of the combined workforce in 2018 to just 27% in 2021.

In response to the latest relocation plan, the lawmakers have introduced the COST of Relocations Act, led by Subramanyam and Van Hollen, which would require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress before any federal agency moves. It remains unclear how many employees work at the Braddock Place facility or when the relocation would occur. ALXnow has reached out to USDA for comment.

Full Statement

National Capital Region Members of Congress Release a Joint Statement on the Trump Administration’s Plan to Relocate USDA Agencies

Washington D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a reorganization of the department that would shut down several facilities in the National Capital Region and relocate thousands of employees across the country. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA-08), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-4), Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07) and Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement:

“This is a betrayal of American farmers, and an attack on the federal workforce that will severely damage services that the American people depend on. We are disappointed but not surprised that the Trump administration is continuing its attacks on the federal workforce, this time through wasting taxpayer dollars to relocate key USDA facilities. Let us be clear: these haphazard, unlawful relocations do not save taxpayer dollars or improve agency efficiency. We’ve seen this tactic before, and we know that it only results in brain drain, crushed morale, and cuts to vital programs American farmers depend on. We will continue to stand up for the dedicated federal workers who provide critical services to our nation as they navigate these relocations, mass firings, and the administration’s continued attacks on the civil service.”

During the first Trump administration, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) relocated both the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) from Washington, DC to Kansas City, MO. A GAO study of these relocations found that these relocations had significant impacts on both agencies’ staffing and productivity, including:

1. The loss of over a third of each agency’s permanent full-time staff following the announcement of the relocation in 2018.
2. A significant loss of experience, with staff with more than two years of experience declining from 83% of both agencies’ combined workforces in 2018 to 27% in 2021.
3. Declines in productivity, with ERS issuing fewer key reports and NIFA taking over a month longer to process and fund competitive grants in 2019.

GAO also found that USDA did not follow many leading practices for agency relocations, including a failure to consult with its employees at any point during the process and the exclusion of several key variables, including employee attrition, in its economic analysis to support the relocations. Both agencies have made positive improvements in these areas under the Biden administration, but the damage has already been done and many experienced, dedicated federal workers were essentially removed from their jobs.

In March 2025, the members introduced the COST of Relocations Act, led by Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), to fight back against President Trump’s relentless effort to relocate federal agencies and decimate their workforces. The legislation would require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress in order to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agency’s mission.

📈 Saturday’s most read

The following were the most-read ALXnow articles on July 26, 2025.

1. Federal investigation concludes Alexandria schools violated Title IX civil rights law
2. ‘Colored Rosemont’ neighborhood to be recognized with Virginia State historic marker
3. Notes: Alexandria buzzes with farmers markets, live music, and community events this weekend
4. USDA to vacate Alexandria’s Braddock Place, home to food assistance programs
5. Alexandria City High School Dean of Students Tiffany Barner dies

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s happening today in Alexandria, as per our event calendar.

Things To Do

• 8:30 a.m.: West End Farmers Market at 4800 Brenman Park
• 9 a.m.: Four Mile Run Farmers’ Market at Four Mile Run Park
• 1 p.m.: Kids Arts & Crafts at Hops N Shine
• 2 p.m.: Alexandria Oddball Cinema – “Kajillionaire” at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
• 2:30 p.m.: Preschool STEAM Sundays at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
• 3 p.m.: Summer Sundays Chamber Music at the Lyceum by WMPA

Live Music & Entertainment

• 219 Restaurant: Kev Powe Thang at 9 p.m.
• Blackwall Hitch: Black Coffee at 10:30 a.m.
• Daniel O’Connell’s: Joe Halligan at 5 p.m.
• Evening Star Cafe: Rock Del Ray July Concert featuring The Derds, Parallel Lives, and Flawd By Birth at 6 p.m.
• Galactic Panther Art Gallery: Punk & Post-Punk Matiness at 3 p.m., Open Mic at 7:30 p.m.
• Hops N Shine: Marvel Trivia Night at 5 p.m.
• Laporta’s Restaurant: Steve Ragsdale at 11:30 a.m., Walt Johnson Trio at 6 p.m.
• Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: O’McPub Band at 4 p.m., Rook Richards at 8:30 p.m.
• O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Open Mic Comedy at 7:30 pm, Karaoke at 9 p.m.
• Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
• The Birchmere: Judy Collins at 7:30 p.m.

City of Alexandria & Alexandria City Public Schools

• 8:30 a.m.: Duke Street Land Use Plan Pop-Up
• 1 p.m.: Science Behind Harry Potter
• 2 p.m.: Family Day with Young Historians

Organizing an event? Submit your event to ALXnow’s Event Calendar.