As part of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s plan to move two research agencies out of the Washington area, officials have given “stay/go” information to employees, said a USDA spokesperson on Tuesday. Three-fourths of Economic Research Service workers will be asked to relocate, said one employee on social media, adding that a high attrition rate was possible.
Perdue has said the USDA will find new homes for ERS and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture this year. Lawmakers said last month that they want more justification for the move.
The USDA did not provide details about how many of the approximately 700 employees of the agencies would be asked to move. “Currently, USDA’s highest priority regarding the relocation is communicating with our employees,” said the spokesperson.