USAEDC Statement on USDA Reorganization

Letter to the Honorable Brooke L. Rollins Secretary United States Department of Agriculture

August 27, 2025 USAEDC Statement on USDA Reorganization

Washington, DC, August 26, 2025 — On behalf of the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC) and our broad coalition of member organizations working to promote U.S. agricultural exports, I write to express our strong support for maintaining the full complement of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)—including not only its diplomatic and policy functions, but also its critical Programs Divisions—headquartered in Washington, D.C. under the USDA’s proposed reorganization plan.

As a long-standing public/private partner to USDA, USAEDC represents over 75 U.S. agriculture Cooperator organizations, including commodity trade associations, farmer cooperatives, and state and regional trade groups. USAEDC’s mission is to facilitate and strengthen this partnership, working collaboratively with USDA to preserve, differentiate, and expand American agricultural exports. Cooperator members of USAEDC rely on USDA-administered programs like the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program to develop essential overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products. USAEDC provides a vital platform for its members and USDA to seamlessly facilitate the operation and implementation of these essential programs.

The special relationship between FAS and industry Cooperators is paramount to our shared goals and deeply depends on the daily collaboration and strategic alignment of industry representatives with FAS staff, especially critical operations staff such as the International Marketing Specialists. Any relocation of these vital personnel outside of Washington, D.C. would significantly undermine the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and success of our shared mission to expand American agricultural exports and address the projected $50 billion in agricultural trade deficits in FY 2025. USAEDC Comments USDA Reorganization August 26, 2025

We strongly agree with the recent testimony of Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry in which he accurately emphasized that the international and diplomatic focus of FAS necessitates its continued presence in the nation’s capital. As a hub of federal policymaking and global diplomacy, Washington, D.C. offers the necessary infrastructure, access to stakeholders, and interagency collaboration required to support U.S. farmers and ranchers in the international marketplace. Maintaining a strong FAS presence in Washington, D.C. is essential for advancing export and diplomatic programs that deliver tangible value to American producers and rural communities, aligning with the Administration’s “America First” priorities. With ag-related industries also frequently engaging on Capitol Hill, a robust DC footprint for FAS ensures efficient advocacy and long-term support for U.S. agriculture.

Beyond the diplomatic and policy functions of FAS, though, it is crucial that the Programs operations divisions also remain in Washington, D.C. These teams play an irreplaceable role in administering, guiding, and strategically implementing USDA export promotion programs with Cooperator partners. The close collaboration between FAS Programs staff, such as International Marketing Specialists, and USAEDC member Cooperators has created one of the most effective and admired public-private partnerships in the federal government. FAS Programs staff expertly engage their primary stakeholders – the Cooperator associations and staff – from their current location in Washington D.C. Relocating these teams could irreparably harm this close partnership.

Importantly, the co-location of FAS Programs staff in D.C. allows for:

  • Agency Efficiency: USDA FAS operates most efficiently when all its interconnected components are centralized. As a small, lean agency, many career staff undertake multiple roles throughout their tenure, encompassing policy, analysis, and program management. Co-location ensures that critical FAS staff have the flexibility and access required for swift, informed decision-making. Much of FAS’s work relies on cross-team collaboration, and being in the same location promotes a more seamless and effective operation.
  • Two Annual, Cost-Efficient Strategic Partnership Meetings: USAEDC hosts two major meetings in the Washington, D.C. region each year, bringing together Cooperators from across the country with USDA FAS leadership and Programs staff. If Programs staff were relocated, the federal government would incur significantly higher travel costs, and Cooperators would face increased logistical complexity and financial burden.
  • Year-Round Accessibility: Many USAEDC members routinely coordinate in-person meetings with their FAS Programs contacts when traveling to D.C. for Capitol Hill visits

USAEDC Comments USDA Reorganization August 26, 2025

or other USDA engagements. This proximity enables productive alignment across federal and private stakeholders, maximizing the value of every trip.

  • Support for Small Agricultural Organizations: Smaller U.S. agricultural groups often operate with limited budgets and personnel. Requiring multiple trips to multiple cities each year to meet with Programs staff would impose an unsustainable burden, creating unequal access to vital programmatic support. This disconnect risks excluding smaller organizations from export promotion efforts and diminishing the diversity and reach of U.S. agricultural exports.

Ultimately, maintaining the FAS Programs Divisions in Washington, D.C. enhances government efficiency, saves taxpayer dollars, strengthens stakeholder engagement, and supports the entire spectrum of American agriculture—from major commodities to small producers.

We urge you to carefully consider the long-term implications of relocating these positions. Doing so would not only disrupt over 40 years of successful collaboration but also place unnecessary barriers between USDA and the very farmers, ranchers, and agricultural exporters it seeks to serve.

Thank you for your leadership and continued support of U.S. agriculture. We stand ready to provide any further input as you evaluate the proposed reorganization and are available for dialogue at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Stephen Sothmann

Executive Director

U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC)