During a recent hearing, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran urged USDA officials to prioritize staffing in county-level offices, particularly within the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), as the department reviews potential workforce reductions.

Sen. Moran emphasized how vital local USDA employees are, especially in rural communities like those across Kansas. He expressed concern that early cuts during recent downsizing efforts disproportionately affected probationary employees, including young professionals returning to their hometowns to begin careers with the USDA. These individuals, Sen. Moran noted, are often the future of rural communities—raising families and supporting local agriculture.

He stressed that face-to-face interactions between farmers and USDA staff in county offices are essential for administering farm and conservation programs, saying such in-person service cannot be replaced by online systems.

Brooke Rollins, testifying on behalf of the department, agreed that local USDA offices are foundational. She emphasized the agency’s historical mission to serve rural America and reaffirmed the importance of supporting farmers directly. Rollins said ensuring prosperity in rural areas remains a top priority and committed to keeping FSA staffing a key focus.