USDA Announces Reorganization of Food Safety and Inspection Service
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a major reorganization plan for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), including the establishment of a new National Food Safety Center (NFSC) in Urbandale, Iowa and the relocation of approximately 200 USDA-FSIS positions currently based in Washington, D.C.
USDA-FSIS’ Support Headquarters Moves to Iowa
USDA will repurpose existing space in Iowa to make room for the NFSC, which will become the agency’s largest office with approximately 200 employees. It will serve as FSIS’ primary location for headquarters support functions, including resource management, training, food safety education, financial operations, information technology, and administrative services. By consolidating these functions in a centrally located hub, USDA-FSIS hopes to reduce duplication, improve coordination, and expand access to career opportunities for employees across the country.
New Offices in Georgia, Colorado
FSIS will also establish a Science Center in Athens, Georgia, building on its existing Eastern Field Services Laboratory and expanding its capabilities in microbiology, chemistry, and epidemiology.
Additionally, USDA-FSIS will establish a presence in Fort Collins, Colorado, for staff supporting international activities.
Hundreds of USDA-FSIS Positions to be Relocated
Under the reorganization, USDA-FSIS will relocate approximately two-thirds of its Washington D.C.-area to locations across the U.S., including the NFSC in Iowa and the Science Center in Georgia. Approximately 200 positions will be relocated from Washington D.C., while roughly 100 positions will remain to support congressional engagement, policy development, and interagency coordination.
USDA says the reorganization does not impact FSIS’ frontline inspection workforce, which represents 85 percent of employees and operates across more than 6,800 regulated establishments.
All food safety inspection activities and public health protections will continue without interruption, and the reorganization does not include any reduction in force, according to USDA. All FSIS employees will retain positions within the agency.
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USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics Offices Also Face Reorganization
USDA also announced a restructuring and relocation plan for its Research, Education, and Economics (REE) Mission Area, which includes the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the Economic Research Service (ERS), and the National Agricultural Statistics Office (NASS).
Under the REE reorganization plan:
- ERS and NIFA will relocate certain Washington D.C.-based positions to their offices in Kansas City, Missouri and return positions that have “sprawled across the country” to Kansas City
- ARS will begin decommissioning the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Beltsville, Maryland and relocate research programs to facilities across the country
- NASS will relocate positions based in Washington, D.C. and other locations across the U.S. to its office in St. Louis, Missouri or other offices; NASS will maintain a field presence to continue to collect information and provide statistical services.
Part of a Broader USDA Reorganization
The newly announced reorganization plans for USDA-FSIS and REE agencies are part of a broader USDA restructuring, which was announced in July 2025. It involves the relocation of Washinton D.C.-based USDA staff, across offices and functions, to new regional hubs across the U.S. in:
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- Salt Lake City, Utah.
According to USDA, this relocation is intended to bring the agency closer to its agricultural constituents and achieve cost savings.
