USDA to Give Up Massive DC Office Building as Workforce Shift Begins

Department plans to relocate over 2,000 employees out of the capital region by 2026

Published on Feb. 25, 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 over 70% of offices in the USDA's South Building sit empty daily, with deferred maintenance costs exceeding $1 billion. The department aims to reduce its workforce in D.C., Maryland and Virginia from 4,600 to around 2,000 by 2026, expanding regional hubs across the country.

Why it matters

The USDA's move to downsize its presence in Washington, D.C. is part of a broader effort by the federal government to decentralize and shift more operations outside the capital region. Proponents argue this will make the government more efficient and responsive to local needs, while critics warn it could weaken the federal workforce and impact the D.C. economy.

The details

The USDA will vacate the South Building, a large office complex in downtown D.C., and also give up leased space in Alexandria, Virginia. Workers from the department's Food and Nutrition Service currently based in Virginia will relocate to D.C. The broader reorganization will ramp up over the summer, allowing employees with school-aged children to complete the move by the next school year. The USDA plans to expand regional hubs in places like Raleigh, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Fort Collins, and Salt Lake City.

  • The USDA outlined its plan to shift workers out of the capital region in July 2025.
  • The department aims to complete the reorganization by the end of 2026.

The players

Brooke Rollins

Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Stephen Vaden

Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Joni Ernst

Republican Senator from Iowa who has advocated for shrinking the federal government.

Edward Forst

Administrator of the General Services Administration.

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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. That all changes starting today, because today we are officially starting the process of turning the South Building back over to the General Services Administration.”

— Brooke Rollins, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

“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 General Services Administration will begin a comprehensive process to determine a new use for the USDA's South Building in Washington, D.C., consulting with stakeholders and the private sector to find the best outcome for the property and the local economy.

The takeaway

The USDA's decision to downsize its presence in the nation's capital reflects a broader federal effort to decentralize government operations and shift more resources and personnel to regional hubs across the country. This move aims to make the government more efficient and responsive, but also raises concerns about the potential impact on the Washington, D.C. economy.