# USDA Pursues Reorganization Despite Court Stay

USDA is continuing to pursue its reorganization while court orders pause specified implementation steps. The plan includes moving Forest Service headquarters to Salt Lake City, closing nearly two dozen research stations, and replacing regional offices with state offices. A separate order temporarily halts efforts to close or hollow out the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) and remains in effect through December 11, 2026; USDA has appealed, and the Ninth Circuit has left the broader stay in place for now. No new solicitation or contract award is identified, but the litigation and potential changes to agency staffing and locations create uncertainty for contractors supporting USDA research, facilities, staffing, wildfire operations, and program delivery.

- USDA contractors should account for possible changes to agency points of contact, workforce availability, and operating capacity when planning ongoing support, particularly for Forest Service and research-related work.
- The Forest Service reorganization could affect regional service delivery and wildfire preparedness; NRCS is seeking local applicants for hub-office vacancies, while the Food and Nutrition Service has restructured operations without carrying out planned relocations.
- The BARC order remains in effect through **December 11, 2026**. Contractors supporting the center should consider the potential effects of litigation and congressional action on site continuity and workforce availability.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Environment
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance, Policy
**Published:** October 23, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service)
- Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC)
- U.S. District Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Ninth Circuit)

### Key Quotes
> We are full-bore ahead in the reorganization,” Rollins said during a conference call with reporters following an announcement on fertilizer production. “We believe in it more today than we ever have — taking the USDA to our constituents, which is rural America, the Forest Service out West.
> — Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture

> If implemented, the planned reorganization activities will likely put thousands of USDA employees to the choice of relocating far from their current home — often to a different state — or losing their job.
> — Vince Chhabria, U.S. District Judge

> When you lose a lot of federal government employees, especially the more senior ones, you're losing a lot of institutional knowledge,
> — Glenn Ivey, U.S. Representative for Maryland's 4th Congressional District

### Sources
- [
        A court has temporarily halted plans affecting the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - Federal News Network](https://federalnewsnetwork.com/podcast/federal-drive-with-terry-gerton-podcast/a-court-has-temporarily-halted-plans-affecting-the-beltsville-agricultural-research-center) - Federal News Network
- [
        Agriculture secretary says agency is ‘full-bore ahead’ on Forest Service reorganization - Federal News Network](https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2026/10/agriculture-secretary-says-agency-is-full-bore-ahead-on-forest-service-reorganization) - Federal News Network
- [
        A court has temporarily halted plans affecting the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - Federal News Network](https://federalnewsnetwork.com/congress/2026/10/a-court-has-temporarily-halted-plans-affecting-the-beltsville-agricultural-research-center) - Federal News Network