A group of twenty-two U.S. Senators led by Peter Welch (D-VT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is urging USDA to reconsider its proposed reorganization of the Rural Development mission area. In a July 24 letter to Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden, the Senators warn that the plan could weaken essential services that support rural communities, businesses, and families.
The Senators emphasize that Rural Development provides grants and loans for small businesses; affordable housing; health care facilities; childcare centers; and infrastructure projects such as water, electricity, and broadband. They point out that recent staffing losses have already strained the Agency’s ability to deliver these services, stating that money appropriated by Congress will not reach rural communities without adequate, expert staff.
The Senators indicate the Agency has lost approximately 36 percent of its workforce over the past year, and that the proposed reorganization would require many remaining employees to relocate, potentially prompting additional departures. The letter requests detailed information on staffing levels; hiring plans; employee training; recruitment efforts; and technology modernization. The Senators have requested a response by August 5, 2026.
For more information, contact RCRC Policy Advocate Eric Will.