Federal employees sue USDA over forced relocations and attrition
Federal employee unions sued USDA for arbitrary reorganization causing forced relocations.
Why it matters: This lawsuit tests legal limits on federal agency reorganizations and employee protections, crucial for advising government and labor clients on employment law and regulatory compliance.
- On Sept. 8, 2026, a coalition of federal unions sued USDA and Secretary Brooke Rollins in Northern California federal court.
- The lawsuit alleges USDA's plan to relocate 2,600 employees violates the Administrative Procedure Act as arbitrary and capricious.
- The reorganization closes seven Food and Nutrition Administration regional offices, consolidating them into five hubs across the country.
- Plaintiffs warn forced relocations will cause employee attrition and impair USDA programs serving millions, like SNAP and WIC.
On September 8, 2026, several federal employee unions filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Secretary Brooke Rollins accusing the agency's reorganization plan of violating the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) by being arbitrary and capricious.
The contentious plan aims to relocate approximately 2,600 employees from the National Capital Region to hubs nationwide, impacting agencies including the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). This involves closing seven regional FNA offices and consolidating them into five hubs located far from many current employees' homes and workplaces.
The plaintiffs, representing unions such as the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), assert that USDA failed to assess how employee attrition from voluntary and forced relocations would affect its statutory mandates. In court filings, they highlight that USDA knows these moves will cause significant attrition, depriving the agency of crucial experience and capacity.
Data showed 64% of 725 employees who received relocation notices accepted reassignment, meaning about one-third are exiting rather than relocating. The unions argue this is an improper reduction in force (RIF) disguised as a reorganization, as many positions vacated through attrition will not be refilled.
This reorganization also threatens USDA initiatives that serve millions of low-income Americans monthly, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which assists 40 million people, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which supports over 40% of U.S. infants.
The lawsuit underscores tensions surrounding federal agency restructuring efforts and employee rights, raising critical questions about administrative process, workforce stability, and program delivery effectiveness.
By the numbers:
- 2,600 employees planned to relocate from National Capital Region — USDA reorganization scale
- 64% acceptance rate of relocation notices among 725 employees — indicates potential attrition
- Seven FNA regional offices closing, consolidating into five hubs — restructuring extent
- 40 million low-income Americans served monthly by SNAP — program potentially affected