INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday announced it will relocate some employees to Indianapolis as part of a major reorganization.

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said she plans to relocate about 2,600 USDA employees away from the Washington, D.C. area to five regional hubs around the country. Besides Indianapolis, her department will establish hubs in Raleigh, N.C.; Kansas City, Mo.; Fort Collins, Colo.; and Salt Lake City. Rollins cited the high cost of living in Washington compared to those five cities. She said about 2,000 USDA staff will remain in the nation’s capital.

Rollins told News 8 USDA leaders are still working out which services will come to Indy and how many workers will be transferred here. She said Indianapolis is a great place for a USDA hub due to its close proximity to some of the nation’s major agribusinesses and agricultural research institutions, such as Purdue University.

“The people of Indiana, I think, represent the best of our country and what we’re really trying to do and who we’re trying to support. So, we think that it’s going to be a really good spot.”

The move is part of a broader reorganization of the department. Besides the hubs, department officials plan to consolidate numerous functions.

The Agriculture Research Service will eliminate its area offices, one of which is located in West Lafayette. Rollins said it’s too soon to say if that office will be moved to the Indianapolis hub.

The Food and Nutrition Service, which among other things runs the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, will consolidate its functions into the hubs.

The U.S. Forest Service will phase out its nine regional offices.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said he loves the idea of dispersing USDA employees across the country, adding the idea came up during his time in the Senate. “I think that ought to get broad reception and when it comes to agriculture, having that closer to farmers, making it easier, I think it’s a great example of how the new administration is doing something where that would have never gotten to first base (under the Biden administration).”

Rollins said officials are still working out the exact timeline but she hopes to move everyone to the hubs sometime in the next year or so. She said each hub will have a specific focus such as the Farm Service Agency or the Forest Service. She said hub assignments should come out over the next few weeks.

“Indianapolis is an incredible home for families and workers at every stage in their careers. Federal workers are the backbone of our state’s economy, with over 24,000 federal workers in Indiana alone.  I continue to warn against further job cuts, or threats of job cuts to our dedicated federal workforce. I look forward to welcoming new workers to Indianapolis and hope that USDA supports and provides incentives to employees in this transition.”

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