USDA announces actions to better serve states, Nutrition Program Rrecipients, and the American Ttxpayer

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services mission area announced its intention to introduce the Food and Nutrition Administration. This shift will include a reorganization and relocation, all to move program leadership and staff from Washington, D.C. to hub and program compliance locations across the U.S. This shift in customer service will not disrupt program execution nor any endeavor to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse across USDA’s 16 nutrition assistance programs.

“On my first day leading the People’s Department, I shared several commitments to our state, tribal, territory, and local government partners, including prioritizing customer service and infusing each nutrition program with new energy and vision,” said Secretary Brooke L. Rollins. “This reorganization is designed with those commitments in mind. I look forward to working with our partners as we continue to nourish children and families in need through nutrition programs that not only are provided by America’s farm families, but programs that pave a pathway to better health and economic stability.”

“This reorganization is long overdue,” said Deputy Secretary Stephen A. Vaden. “The Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services mission area has not had a Senate-confirmed Under Secretary in nearly two decades, and the shift to the Food and Nutrition Administration will better align with other benefit programs administered across the federal government. This reorganization also reduces duplicative management and complexity within the agency, better prioritizes State service and participant needs, and expands the Department’s presence to fight fraud, waste, and abuse.”

“As part of this reorganization, we are changing our structure from regional offices to Hubs that will offer improved program support across the nation,” said Deputy Under Secretary Patrick Penn. “This new structure will enhance our customer service to the millions of families reliant on these programs and allow for greater employee and partner collaboration.”

As part of this effort, the FNA Administrator will remain in Washington, D.C., along with a small footprint to be responsive to Congress, interagency needs, regulatory work, and policy coordination.

Programmatically, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will be relocated to Indianapolis, IN; the Child Nutrition Programs will be relocated to Dallas, TX; the Supplemental Nutrition and Safety Programs will be relocated to Kansas City, MO; and research programs will be relocated to Raleigh, NC. The fifth Hub in Denver, CO, will serve as the Emergency Management and Continuity of Operations location. Lastly, retailer operations and compliance will be across four offices: Atlanta, GA; Los Angeles, CA; Dallas, TX; and New York, NY.

These actions will realign the Department’s focus to the States who administer USDA nutrition programs, the households who benefit from them, and the taxpayers who fund them.