GAO Faults USDA Reorganization for Lack of Analysis

A Government Accountability Office report says the Agriculture Department did not document how it weighed potential harms from its agency-wide restructuring.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Organic Food

GAO Faults USDA Reorganization for Lack of Analysis

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Do you trust your local USDA office to keep serving farmers after staffing cuts?

The Government Accountability Office released a report finding the U.S. Department of Agriculture lacked transparency and did not provide analysis of potential harms from its reorganization. The workforce fell 20% from December 2024 through March 2026, and a federal judge in October blocked the agency from proceeding.

Why it matters

The review raises questions about how federal restructuring affects agencies that oversee food and farm programs across the country. Farmers have reported lower staffing at county USDA offices, and the dispute now centers on whether the department followed proper analysis before moving forward.

The USDA workforce declined from roughly 91,000 to 73,000 employees between December 2024 and March 2026, a 20% drop tied largely to federal cuts linked to the Department of Government Efficiency. The agency has not documented an analysis of potential harms, leaving the reorganization's effects on staffing unresolved.

The players

Brooke Rollins

Brooke Rollins is the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture who oversaw the department's reorganization plan and called the GAO report partisan.

Government Accountability Office

The Government Accountability Office is the independent audit and investigative arm of Congress that conducts reviews of federal agency programs and spending.

The details

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins aimed to move about half of the department's Washington, DC-area employees to hubs around the country as part of the Trump administration's broader federal overhaul. Democratic Representative Angie Craig and Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar requested the GAO review, and Rollins later called the report "partisan shenanigans" in a September 30 letter.

December 2024: USDA workforce decline period begins.
March 2026: USDA workforce decline period ends at about 73,000 employees.
October 2026: A federal judge blocks the reorganization and rules for federal worker unions.
November 9, 2026: GAO report finding lack of transparency is released.

Big Picture

The USDA reorganization is part of the Trump administration's federal overhaul, which included Department of Government Efficiency workforce cuts. The GAO review shows how that broader effort is now being scrutinized agency by agency.

Farmers may find fewer USDA staff at county offices to help with program enrollment and questions. Shoppers may see the effects over time in how federal food and farm programs are administered.

The takeaway

Federal reorganizations affect the agencies that run everyday food and farm programs, so tracking staffing changes at local USDA offices can show how policy shifts reach the people it serves.