The Department of Agriculture’s inspector general will investigate the proposed movement of two USDA agencies outside of the Washington D.C. area. Center for Rural Affairs Policy Director Jonathan Hladik says his group welcomes that investigation and is opposed to the movement of both the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has said moving the agencies would save the government money. Hladik doesn’t buy that argument.
He says one of his group’s major concerns is that moving ERS And NIFA changes the authority over those agencies and makes it more political in nature.
The investigation by the Department of Agriculture inspector general could trigger further efforts by Congress to block or restrict the USDA decision.
