The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry convened on July 30, 2025, to review the USDA reorganization proposal, focusing on its implications for staff relocation and regional support, particularly in California.

The meeting began with discussions on the challenges of relocating USDA staff, especially in California, where housing costs are significantly high. Concerns were raised about the potential for high attrition rates, as past reorganizations saw about half of the staff from two agencies choose not to relocate. A representative from the USDA acknowledged the loss of expertise during previous relocations, noting that new hires often lacked the experience of those who left. While the USDA aims to improve outcomes this time by considering cost of living and existing employee footprints, they could not provide a specific estimate for expected attrition.

Senators expressed broader concerns regarding the lack of regional offices in California. The state is set to lose an Agriculture Research Service office, which raised alarms about the USDA's commitment to supporting California's agricultural sector. The committee highlighted that California had been excluded from disaster relief assistance due to narrow qualifications, despite the state’s significant agricultural contributions. Additionally, all conservation program grants for California were canceled, while similar projects in other states continued to receive funding.

The discussions underscored a perception among committee members that the USDA's decisions might be politically motivated rather than focused on the best interests of farmers in California. The meeting concluded with a call for the USDA to reconsider its approach to ensure equitable support for all states, particularly those with substantial agricultural output like California.