He said overall staffing is down to 209 from 300 during the Obama administration. “It’s been our goal to make USDA the most effective, efficient, and customer-focused department in the entire federal government,” Perdue said. Trump’s 2020 budget proposal wants $15.5 million to relocate ERS and $9.5 million to relocate NIFA. “We continue to believe that the USDA lacks the legal authority to carry out this proposal,” Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., and Del. “However, even if it had such authority, USDA has not done the proper analysis of the cost and benefits, and this proposal will harm agriculture research and our constituents.”

Source: Fox News May 23, 2019 19:54 UTC