USDA to Vacate Massive DC Office Building as Workforce Shifts to States

Department plans to reduce DC-area staff from 4,600 to 2,000 as part of broader reorganization

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture will transfer a large office building in Washington, D.C. to the General Services Administration as part of a plan to shrink the department's footprint in the capital region. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said more than 70% of offices at the USDA's South Building sit empty on any given day, and deferred maintenance costs have exceeded $1 billion. The moves are part of a broader USDA reorganization to shift workers out of the DC area and expand regional hubs across the country.

Why it matters

The USDA's plan to reduce its DC-area workforce and relocate staff to regional offices is part of a broader push by the federal government to decentralize operations and cut costs. This shift could have significant economic and political implications for the Washington, D.C. metro area, which has long been a hub for federal agencies and contractors.

The details

The USDA will transfer the South Building, a large office complex on Independence Avenue, to the General Services Administration. The department will also vacate leased office space in Alexandria, Virginia. These moves are part of a plan outlined in July 2025 to reduce the USDA workforce in DC, Maryland and Virginia from 4,600 to around 2,000, while expanding regional hubs in places like Raleigh, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Fort Collins, and Salt Lake City.

  • The USDA announced the plans to transfer the South Building on February 26, 2026.
  • The broader USDA reorganization is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.

The players

Brooke Rollins

USDA Secretary who announced the plans to transfer the South Building and reduce the department's DC-area workforce.

Stephen Vaden

USDA Deputy Secretary who provided additional details on the workforce relocation plans.

Joni Ernst

Republican Senator from Iowa who has advocated for shrinking the federal government and urged the USDA to consider her state as a target for relocation.

Edward Forst

GSA Administrator who said the transfer of the South Building is just a preliminary stage and the agency will work to find a new use for the building.

General Services Administration (GSA)

The federal agency that will take over the USDA's South Building in Washington, D.C.

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What they’re saying

“Behind me, along this entire city block in bricks and mortar, is what government that has grown too big, too bloated and too disconnected from its citizens looks like.”

— Brooke Rollins, USDA Secretary

“Let's just keep on draining the swamp, and, Secretary Rollins, moving our federal workers closer to the people that they represent. And I would say that the great state of Iowa is a good place to start.”

— Joni Ernst, U.S. Senator

What’s next

The USDA reorganization will ramp up over the summer of 2026, allowing employees with school-aged children to finish the academic year in the capital area before completing their relocation.

The takeaway

The USDA's plan to reduce its footprint in the Washington, D.C. region and shift more staff to regional hubs across the country is part of a broader federal effort to decentralize government operations and cut costs. This move could have significant economic and political implications for the DC metro area, which has long been a hub for federal agencies and contractors.