USDA to Vacate Major DC Office Building

Department plans to shift workforce out of capital region, reduce footprint from 4,600 to 2,000 employees

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. More than 70% of offices at the USDA's South Building sit empty, and the department will also vacate leased space in Alexandria, Virginia. The moves are aimed at right-sizing the federal real estate footprint and rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.

Why it matters

The USDA's plan to shift its workforce out of the Washington, D.C. area and expand regional hubs across the country is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the federal government's presence in the capital region. This move aligns with calls from some lawmakers to 'drain the swamp' and bring more federal jobs closer to the people they serve.

The details

The USDA will transfer its South Building in Washington, D.C. to the General Services Administration. The department will also vacate leased office space in Alexandria, Virginia. These actions are part of a plan outlined in July 2025 to shift the USDA workforce out of the capital region, reducing the number of employees in D.C., 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 outlined its plan to shrink its footprint in the capital region in July 2025.
  • The department aims to complete the reorganization by the end of 2026.

The players

Brooke Rollins

USDA Secretary

Stephen Vaden

USDA Deputy Secretary

Joni Ernst

Republican Senator from Iowa

Edward Forst

GSA Administrator

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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, USDA Secretary (rawstory.com)

“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, Republican Senator from Iowa (rawstory.com)

What’s next

The GSA will consult with stakeholders, including the private sector, to determine the future use of the USDA's South Building in Washington, D.C. The transfer of the building to the GSA is just the first step in a long and comprehensive process.

The takeaway

The USDA's plan to reduce its footprint in the Washington, D.C. area and shift more federal jobs to regional hubs across the country reflects the Trump administration's broader efforts to decentralize the federal government and bring government closer to the people it serves.