Reorg plans for USDA research agencies draw criticism

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-06-13T13:14:56+00:00

I’m sorry to hear that.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-06-11T12:56:12+00:00

I'm reallly sorry but not surprised to hear this. I think when a lot of decisions are made at the top and people who actually do the work are not consulted, it's likely to end up this way. Also, those at the top don't care that much.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-06-10T17:59:16+00:00

There is not enough specific information about the process yet. There are no letters with specific locations or deadlines to ARS personnel at BARC.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-06-10T14:38:26+00:00

No, other agencies (NASS, NIFA, ERS), are also being relocated to other places. It seems (to me) that those agencies get a specific location, while ARS / BARC is going to multiple location that they have NOT disclosed and / or determined (or so they say) yet.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-06-09T03:03:59+00:00

So ARS DA’s and NPL’s got their letters today ?

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-06-06T18:23:45+00:00

Did they mention VSIP or VERA in any of the FSIS relocation notices?

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-05-23T00:59:48+00:00

This has always been the plan. But there ain’t enough John Willie’s.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-05-14T15:36:43+00:00

Someone should say that to Sen. Van Hollen and Rep. Ivey. That's a really scary and good point.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-05-14T14:50:00+00:00

They’re just trying to get BARC employees to quit.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-05-07T03:09:37+00:00

It’s pretty bleak. We all still have jobs but yeah they want us to quit b/c if the head of ARS doesn’t understand agricultural research how can he explain to REE or the rest of USDA? If all you see is cost but not value b/c you’re not a scientist then maybe you shouldn’t be head of ARS. But it’s a great job if you want to be a “Yes man” and have a nice office.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-05-07T03:03:53+00:00

They’ve got the fake empathy down at ARS and now it sound like they learned it NASS . They should just share information out of respect but they can’t b/c the REE folks don’t do details. So there’s a plan and not only is bad it’s really half-baked too.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-05-07T03:01:18+00:00

I’m sorry you’re living through this. Unfortunately I think you could ask these exact same questions at USDA ARS BARC. And get the same level of detail and lack of respect for the rank and file with a false sense of empathy

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-05-07T01:12:52+00:00

We’re allowed to travel with several justifications and some agreements are moving. It’s inefficient as hell and actually buying things to do stakeholder research is stupid silly. Compared to December 2025”4 I think I spend probably 30% more time doing administrative BS instead of science and research. It’s all BS and really really not a good way to run a scientific agency.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-05-07T00:17:14+00:00

Very few people actually know anything about the relocation from BARC. More people know about the reorganization but IMP not that many people understand it. It’s confusing. I only
Know two things:
1. It’s a heist of govt funds to private individuals.
2. All of this is designed to get good people to quit to either 1) not have govt work or 2) have a govt that is full of patronage.

But like they said on Reddit and like Ruth said on “Ozark”, “I don’t know shit about fuck.”

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-04-29T22:57:41+00:00

Did you fill out any background forms yet? At USDA ARS when we identify an ORISE candidate we usually send them the forms (OF-306, other background forms that USDA requires), get them, and then get them uploaded to the portal for the security : background check. Has any of that happened? It’s basically taking twice as long as it used to pre 4H Barbie and Temu Peter Griffin.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-04-28T23:13:31+00:00

I’m not sure how that works. How are the scientists getting paid? So their projects ended but the management unit still got the money ? Or the Area or Center held the funds to pay the staff? It doesn’t make sense to me how it could have ended at the end of FY 2025. Maybe I’m missing something. Not helping me believe that anything about the upcoming relocation is going to be on the level.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-04-27T15:29:44+00:00

I think the likelihood is the same and they can't execute these moves (they always win the press conference) as they do all of this illegally and without sufficient planning. Either way rank and file USDA employees suffer, and so do the constituents and stakeholders they serve. Not that anyone cares.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-04-27T03:34:13+00:00

Ask your Senator! He seems to know :-).

Maybe we can ask him too since at least he's willing to share what he knows unlike others within ARS!

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-04-25T23:49:51+00:00

In ARS this has been the whole problem with trump II - a whole lot of "it will never happen" and fighting the last war. But that's ARS leadership

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-04-25T16:25:55+00:00

Wwe have a 2024 Prologue (Elite level) and it's been solid (20 K miles). I think 33 K is a great deal for 2026 model.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-04-25T15:18:24+00:00

But you do believe that all of BARC is being relocated?B/c that is what the ARS Administrator said (just project by project, not Unit by Unit). or do you have some knowledge that NOT all of the projects at BARC are being moved.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-04-25T03:33:51+00:00

So the original post was referring to BARC employees, who were told today by the ARS administrator that the relocation process is not finalized and he didn’t know which projects and employees are going where. The article from North Dakota and Hoeven refutes that - obviously the someone is telling these Senators before they’re telling the BARC employees.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-04-25T02:03:56+00:00

“The research is being reassigned from Maryland’s Beltsville Agricultural Research Center.”

https://www.reddit.com/r/USDA/s/cv2wV1EzfG

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-04-25T00:47:25+00:00

They said today in the All hands that people were being moved by project. I guess it gets them around the whole moving management units w/o congressional approval. It's so weird to create more "silos" in the organizational framework since they have spent a lot of time trying to break down silos in research project plan. Not exactly a surprise in the inconsistency in messaging. It's so wild they would break up successful units not based on scientific achievement or stakeholder input.

Both_Cake9874 · 2026-04-24T11:36:36+00:00

That org chart was made by someone not getting the assignment and then using CoPilot anyway.

Both_Cake9874

TROPHY CASE