Despite assurances from the Trump Administration that the relocation of ERS and NIFA would not affect the missions of the agencies, lack of capacity has delayed economic reports and research grants
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, raised concerns that the relocation of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research agencies, the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), has delayed reports and research grants, despite assurances that the move would not affect the missions of the agencies. Thus far, the USDA has on-boarded nine new employees in Kansas City to fill hundreds of vacant positions.
“I am deeply concerned about the lack of capacity at NIFA and ERS due to the Trump Administration’s decision to relocate these agencies,” wrote Senator Stabenow. “Over the past year, the Administration has repeatedly told Congress that the relocation would not affect capacity to administer research grants, conduct economic research, and carry out the critical missions of these two agencies.”
The lack of capacity due to the relocation is affecting Farm Bill implementation. Just days before the end of the fiscal year, funding made available through NIFA has not been awarded for several grant programs, including those that help fruit and vegetable growers, organic producers, and beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers. Many of these grantees already received notice of an award with a September 1 start date, but funding could be delayed for months, preventing grant recipients from starting their important projects.
The Department has told Congressional staff that the relocation would not delay any reports. News articles have revealed that dozens of ERS reports will be delayed due to staffing shortages, including monthly commodity price forecasts that are used by farmers to help manage their businesses.
Stabenow raised several questions about the impact of staffing shortages and requested a thorough explanation of how the Department plans to fill its capacity for both NIFA and ERS.
The full text of the letter is below. A PDF of the letter is available here.
Dear Secretary Perdue,
I am deeply concerned about the lack of capacity at the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Economic Research Service (ERS) due to the Trump Administration’s decision to relocate these agencies at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Over the past year, the Administration has repeatedly told Congress that the relocation would not affect capacity to administer research grants, conduct economic research, and carry out the critical missions of these two agencies.
With over 75% of reassigned employees opting not to relocate, on top of already high vacancy rates, the relocation has left these agencies with little ability to do their important work. Thus far, only eight newly hired ERS employees and one NIFA employee are working in Kansas City. Of particular concern, only 9 percent of current NIFA employees in the Office of Grants Management have agreed to relocate to Kansas City.
It is clear that the lack of capacity is affecting Farm Bill implementation. Just days before the end of the 2019 fiscal year, funding has not been awarded for several research programs, including the Specialty Crops Research Initiative, Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, and the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, all of which have mandatory funding through the Farm Bill.
Several grant applicants have been notified that they will receive an award, but have not yet received funding, which is delaying their critical work. While the Department recently told my staff that these funds will be obligated no later than October 1, 2019, many of these funds have not yet been distributed to grantees, and stakeholders are concerned that FY2019 funding could be delayed until January 2020. It is imperative that the Department award these grants quickly. Additionally, it is essential that there is adequate capacity at NIFA to carry out the FY2020 grant cycle.
I am also concerned about ERS’s ability to do its important work given the staffing shortages. While the Department recently told my staff that the relocation would not delay ERS reports, a recent news article revealed that dozens of reports are in danger of missing scheduled issuance dates. According to the article, ERS will be “unable to provide the same level of breadth and depth in its economic research and analysis as it did in the past” because of staffing shortages. Another press article stated that 38 reports may be delayed, including monthly season average commodity price forecasts that are used by the World Agriculture Outlook Board and by farmers to help manage their price risk.
The Department seems to recognize the impact of staffing shortages and recently offered extensions to some employees. While I appreciate the effort, it is too little too late for many employees as the USDA granted those extensions only a couple weeks before employees were supposed to relocate or face termination. Additionally, it is unclear why the Department did not offer these extensions to all ERS and NIFA employees.
The Department recently told my staff that in the interim, it will hire back retired employees on a part-time basis and detail employees from other agencies to fill in the holes while they hire new employees. It seems counter-productive to terminate current employees to simply hire others back on a part time basis when the USDA already has enormously high vacancy rates. I request a thorough explanation of how the Department plans to fill its capacity for both NIFA and ERS. In addition, please provide answers to the following questions and supporting documentation by October 11, 2019.
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