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Perdue hopes Congress doesn’t block ERS & NIFA move

Ag Secretary Perdue says he hopes Congress doesn’t block funding, now that he’s announced Kansas City will be the new home for the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. “Well, certainly Congress can do what Congress does and we will respect that. We’ve done our best to persuade Congress over our reasons and the benefits and we’ll continue to do that.”

Perdue told reporters he hopes Congress recognizes that relocating USDA services is a legitimate executive function. “While they have legitimate oversight of how we conduct our business, I would submit that how we relocate and those kinds of things is really part of the efficiency and effectiveness mission of the executive branch.”

If Congress doesn’t block funding for the move, Perdue’s plan calls for ERS and NIFA employees to report to Kansas City offices by September 30^th, and he welcomes them to move sooner to accommodate family issues such as fall school enrollment. 

Perdue says the move will save USDA more than 300-million dollars that can be better used for research.