On July 15th, hundreds of federal workers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture had to decide whether they would take an offer to leave DC and report to work in Kansas City on September 30th or be fired from their jobs with a small chance to appeal their termination.
Why Is the U.S. Department of Agriculture Relocating?
On June 13th, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdu announced that 547 employees from the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture agencies would be moving to an office located in Kansas City. Officials from the Trump administration claim the relocation of hundreds of workers is part of an effort to save taxpayers money and allow researchers to work closer to the farmers they primarily serve.
Federal Employees Speak Out
Employees at the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture have gone on record saying Perdu’s decision to relocate the two agencies is just an attempt to “eviscerate” the agency and “silence” research that opposes the Trump administration’s goals.
One research economist who spoke on the condition of anonymity said he doesn’t “think anybody believes that their justification is anything more than a fig leaf over the true motives, which are to eviscerate this agency.”
Union officials from AFGE Local 3403 have estimated that at least 70% percent of NIFA employees and 60% of ERS employees will decline the offer to relocate and instead try to find other work.
We Can Help with Your Appeal
At John P. Mahoney, Esq., Attorneys at Law, we are here to guide you through your appeal if you want to dispute the reason you were terminated by a federal employer. We are committed to using our skills and experience to assist clients with all of their legal matters, and we are prepared to get to work for you today.
Are you a federal worker at the U.S. Department of Agriculture who declined to relocate? Do you need help filing an appeal? Call (202) 350-3881 to schedule your free consultation today. We are here to serve you.
