Just heard they've been told they have until September 30th to relocate.

How long have they known? Because selling a house in less than 60 days when you had no previous plans to do so is INSANE.

I'd love to move to KC if I could keep my same salary. It is so much less expensive:

Anonymous wrote:I have lots of thoughts about this (my agency is planning something similar- BLM)

-Currently there's a lot of job hopping by federal employees and this increases the talent. For instance scientists might hop between USDA divisions, or over to NIH. BLM often moves between USGS/BIA/BSEE/BOEM.

-I believe DC should be a government town and we can pool resources. A lot of feds have 100% fed jobs that aren't available outside of the federal workforce. If they move to Kansas City, their job prospects will be limited.

-The government is saving exactly ZERO dollars by doing this. If you think they are, I've got a bridge to sell you. COL isn't THAT much lower in other cities (Denver has the same cost of living as DC), but moving feds is $$$.

-Most feds are dual income households due to our middle class salaries. I would NOT move if my DH wasn't moving as well. I would just get another job in DC.

-"Get closer to stakeholders" is BS. We have plenty of data calls with stakeholders and that's no problem whatsoever. What you'd be missing out on is inter agency or inter Department knowledge that's currently gained by putting agencies together in DC.

-This is a purely political move. A congressman getting jobs for his district.

This is disengenious. They're talking relocating the actual agency headquarters to the communities outside Kansas City in either Kansas or Missouri.

You know how much land per a square mile in those areas are? It's $600,000 per an ACRE right on top of the airport.

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/8800-NW-112th-St-Kansas-City-MO/15777214/

Contrast that to near Dulles or Reagan - It's $1,000,000 per an acre all the way out in Manassas.

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/9701-Hornbaker-Rd-Manassas-VA/13869341/

The USDA could build out an entire new headquarters facilities, including lower operational and building costs, for less than 1/2th the cost it'd take to do so in the DMV.

USDA already has office space in Overland Park and I am sure the real estate is cheaper there than College Park, MD. But I don’t get why they need to move scientists away from UMD and other sources of talent. At least EPA has R&D in Research Triangle Park, NC close to a source of talent. I worked back office at USDA for many years. It’s the accounting, HR, loan servicing, grant making, etc. that should be moved - although much of it already is. They should close a bunch of the county FSA / RD offices while they are at it once Farmers.gov and more services are online.

Anonymous wrote:Meh. Shouldn't be hard to find scientists willing to live in Missouri.

how do you know?

Anonymous wrote:Exactly what the Trump admin wants. Fill the slots with creationists and climate deniers. Jesus.

Was that intended?

I would not want to live in MO either.

Meh. Shouldn't be hard to find scientists willing to live in Missouri.

Exactly what the Trump admin wants. Fill the slots with creationists and climate deniers. Jesus.

I have lots of thoughts about this (my agency is planning something similar- BLM)

-Currently there's a lot of job hopping by federal employees and this increases the talent. For instance scientists might hop between USDA divisions, or over to NIH. BLM often moves between USGS/BIA/BSEE/BOEM.

-I believe DC should be a government town and we can pool resources. A lot of feds have 100% fed jobs that aren't available outside of the federal workforce. If they move to Kansas City, their job prospects will be limited.

-The government is saving exactly ZERO dollars by doing this. If you think they are, I've got a bridge to sell you. COL isn't THAT much lower in other cities (Denver has the same cost of living as DC), but moving feds is $$$.

-Most feds are dual income households due to our middle class salaries. I would NOT move if my DH wasn't moving as well. I would just get another job in DC.

-"Get closer to stakeholders" is BS. We have plenty of data calls with stakeholders and that's no problem whatsoever. What you'd be missing out on is inter agency or inter Department knowledge that's currently gained by putting agencies together in DC.

-This is a purely political move. A congressman getting jobs for his district.

Poor QOL is the only reason they won't go. If the USDA was moving to the south of France they would have been the first volunteers.

Administration’s Decision to move USDA research agencies across the country was made without consulting Congress and against the will of most federal employees at those agencies, who will be forced to uproot their families if the move happens.

We are fighting for them. - VA Rep Beyer

Oh man. KC is a a great place to live.

Anonymous wrote:"Evidence suggests that the relocation of these agencies is an attempt to hollow out and dismantle USDA science that helps farmers and protects our food supply," the union added.

Brain drain of top scientists doing federal research. I hope the new people will not simply be yes men, but that's probably the intent. I guess the MAGA folks are happy.

So they pre-emptily jump ship and leave the agency to flounder? Doesn't seem smart.

And correct me if I'm wrong - but shouldn't the agency focused on agriculture, food and rural communities be actually in the areas were that's most impactful? Seems smart to have the USDA hq'd in the heartland.

"Evidence suggests that the relocation of these agencies is an attempt to hollow out and dismantle USDA science that helps farmers and protects our food supply," the union added.

Brain drain of top scientists doing federal research. I hope the new people will not simply be yes men, but that's probably the intent. I guess the MAGA folks are happy.

Maybe they're concerned about more than jobs...like QOL, schools, and home values moving to flyover.

Well, this is a first. Scientists are deserting the USDA and refusing to move to the Kansas City Area.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/07/17/742519999/future-of-key-farming-research-uncertain-as-2-3-of-usda-staff-say-they-wont-move