KEEP USDA SERVICES IN CALIFORNIA

500 MILES TOO FAR!

USDA REORGANIZATION

On July 24, 2025, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a plan to reorganize its offices nationwide. The reorganization affects multiple USDA agencies that serve California's farmers, ranchers, rural communities and national forests, consolidating operations into five regional hubs while eliminating the current nine regional Forest Service offices across the country. The closest hub to California will be located in Salt Lake City, Utah - over 500 miles from the Central Valley.

What's at Stake for California

AGRICULTURAL SECTOR UNDER THREAT

California dominates American agriculture with $59.46 billion in agricultural sales and more than 400 agricultural commodities. California produces 70% of all fruits and vegetables grown in the country. Despite this agricultural supremacy, the USDA reorganization threatens this leadership by:

  • Excluding California representation

    The five new regional hubs are located in Raleigh NC, Kansas City MO, Indianapolis IN, Fort Collins CO, and Salt Lake City UT - none in California despite it being the nation's top agricultural producer

  • Disrupting county services

    Local USDA offices may close or reduce services, affecting farmers' access to technical assistance and emergency response coordination

  • Centralizing nutrition programs

    The Food and Nutrition Service will reduce its regions from seven to five and align with distant USDA hubs, which could affect how SNAP, WIC, and school nutrition programs are administered in California's 58 counties

  • Consolidating agricultural services

    USDA will consolidate support functions away from California, reducing responsiveness to the state's diverse agricultural, environmental and resource challenges

FOREST MANAGEMENT AND WILDFIRE RESPONSE IN JEOPARDY

California’s 18 national forests covering 20 million acres will be managed from distant states with far less forest land and far different ecosystems. The reorganization plan:

  • Closes Forest Service regional offices over the next year

    including California's Region 5 office that oversees California, Hawaii and Pacific Islands

  • Eviscerates the experienced workforce

    Over 15,000 USDA employees have taken voluntary buyouts, and the reorganization accelerates departures as employees face relocation and elimination of positions

  • Removes local decision-making

    thousands of miles from California's fire-prone forests, removing decision-making authority from those with expertise and slowing emergency response

  • Shutters California's Pacific Southwest Research Station

    The only research station studying Mediterranean climate and chaparral ecosystems moves to Colorado, losing expertise tailored to California's unique conditions

ECONOMIC IMPACT ON CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES

California's rural communities and agricultural economy will bear significant economic costs from the reorganization

  • Displaces workers

    California USDA employees face forced relocation to distant states or job loss

  • Removes local expertise

    Decades of California-specific agricultural and forestry knowledge will be lost

  • Slows agriculture inspections

    Consolidation of support functions may slow critical food safety inspections for California's massive agricultural exports

  • Eliminates rural community support

    Loss of federal presence in rural California communities that depend on USDA and USFS services

HOW TO TAKE ACTION

California cannot afford to lose its voice in USDA decision-making. Act now by sending a letter to USDA to express why it is imperative that regional offices exist to better serve our community.



Submit your comments today! Deadline: August 26, 2025

Email your comments to: reorganization@usda.gov

SAMPLE EMAIL:

"I oppose the USDA reorganization plan because it fails to adequately serve California's needs. As the nation's leading agricultural producer with $59.46 billion in sales - California requires dedicated regional oversight, not distant management from other states. The elimination of Forest Service regional offices puts California communities at risk during fire season and threatens the health of our public lands. The consolidation of county-level services threatens nutrition programs, agricultural assistance, and emergency response that California's 58 counties depend on. This plan was developed without proper consultation with communities, land managers or agricultural stakeholders. I urge USDA to maintain a California-based regional hub, maintain Forest Service regional offices, and ensure continued local service delivery to protect our state's agricultural economy, wildfire response capabilities, public lands and rural communities."

You have until August 26, 2025 to submit comments opposing this plan that abandons California and the West Coast.


For more information contact Bryan Pride, Tuleyome's Policy Director.

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