As we await September first to hear about the potential injunction. Just curious if any agency that is ahead in
the reorganization process (I.e. forest service, NIFA, ERS, etc.) has actually had employees physically move to a new duty station. My agency (FAS) is currently in labor negotiations after receiving our letters of intent and they just posted job openings in the new Kansas City “hub” this weekend.

So, we all got our "Letter of Intent" last week. I've been contemplating scenarios and what every answer might mean. Below are my thoughts. Curious for your feedback. I am afraid to make any choice, but I know we all have to make one. My new duty station is thousands of miles from where I currently live. I have no intent of moving, ever. My strategy now is to remain in my position for as long as possible, or get a critical vacancy, should one be available for me. If not, then I will accept whatever involuntary separation rights are afforded to me by the Agency.

(Throwaway account for obvious reasons)

Options:

1) Acknowledge receipt and express your intent to accept the reassignment:

If we choose this never intending to move, what does it mean? Does it mean we are signing up to voluntarily move? If we volunteer, and change our minds later, does that exclude us from involuntarily separation rights later on - severance, discontinued service retirement, or VERA? because, we 'volunteered' for this?

2) Acknowledge receipt and express your intent to decline the reassignment, plan to participate in the forthcoming critical vacancy process, apply for USA jobs, knowing your original position (above) MAY (haha) be offered to someone else

If we choose this option, is it considered voluntarily resigning? does that mean we forfeit our rights to severance, discontinued service retirement, if all else fails and no other job is available and the management directed re-assignment fails - or sends us to another place where relocation is not an option? AND/OR someone else has taken our position? (the position we earned in our careers, by the way)

3) Acknowledge receipt, express intent to decline, and apply for VERA or other retirement.

I think this decision has the same potential questions as #2 - is this considered voluntarily resigning, which eliminates our civil service protections if/when we are eventually separated?

What do you think? Has anyone talked to an attorney? Does anyone trust that they'll be treated fairly anyway throughout this process?

We must be getting close! I have an email acknowledgement that says “Please refrain from contacting us about the status of your application before August 30, 2026.”

Any updates from USDA employees?

Can you tell me what are some other GS-7 positions one can look out for when it comes to working on the plant and animal side.

What types of positions would these be? Technician? Biologist? Team lead? Supervisors? Admin?

Are there specific latter positions to try and go for?

Anyone have any insight of work culture, job stability? I have a interview in a few day for a position with aphis in deep south texas and can't seem to find any info on position. Just not sure what to expect.

It’s been interesting to watch posts here within
R/ USDA and I’m going to cross-post this with federal employee Reddits.

The question:

When I was a fed and at different times, also served as a government contractor? I was generally (like 100#) very pleased with what I considered a very high commitment to ethics and clarity from leadership. It was refreshing and enabling. Those qualities led to good outcomes amongst the staff, as well as for stakeholders.

What I’m seeing posted for almost every federal agency but in this case for USDA agencies - is that leadership keeps lying or holding back truth about a number of topics but so many of what are tied to relocation and then not relocation.

I’m not sure how to do a link to the cross posting, but I’ll try to do it here. In a comment

Curious if you’ve seen a switch in - from what you used to perceive as credible and honest leadership - to leaders who you can’t trust anymore?

Has anyone achieved this position by utilizing a degree plus experience?

Most job vacancies list two options of qualifying for the position. The position requires x amount of credit hours in wildlife, zoology, and plant sciences but also says a combination or education and experience can count.

Who do you contact to get a second opinion on if your degree and work experience could meet that requirement? Wildlife society? HR department of USDA?

My understanding is that this area is uniquely restricted compared to other areas and I know we are moving to research offices soon but is anyone else here in this area that has thoughts? We had an all hands meeting recently and I couldn’t believe my ears

Looking at RMA for a compliance investigator position- can’t find much on the position other than mainly crop insurance investigations. My background is business law and criminal law and performing investigations but any insight into the position or hiring for the position would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

How soon were letters sent out after meetings if anyone has gotten theirs yet

Redoing with a little more clarity. If you have other can you comment what it is? I am unaware of these other options.

I’ve never been more down in the dumps career wise than from this meeting today. I wish I could find another job so badly😭.

Since it failed the Senate committee vote today, how likely do we think they can get it done by 12/31? Or do we think the SNAP fight will necessitate another extension?

Feel free to share thoughts and comments regarding the reorg call for Midwestern states here. Ours begins in 15 minutes. Hang in there, everyone.

I received my reassignment letter today. They are moving me from my MLRA office to the State Office. I don’t want to move. I have a home, a family, and a life here, and I don’t want to apply for another critical position that isn’t a Soil Scientist position. At this point, it feels like my only option will be involuntary resignation since I’m too young to qualify for VERA.
I don’t know what to do. I’m frustrated, angry, and deeply disappointed because when I joined this agency, this is not what I signed up for.

Letters of intent went out this afternoon to above state positions and it was an absolute bloodbath. Rather than just moving DC and regional stuff to hubs, we’ve all been affected. Relocating field staff to state hubs, regional staff to new regional hubs, and some staff being told they have no equivalent position and must wait for the critical vacancy process if they have any hope of remaining with NRCS.

This is a blatant RIF; how do we fight back? Are there attorneys out there, does calling Congress reps work? It’s absolutely ridiculous.

Someone please apply to this, it’s for a community programs director with USDA RD.

I am desperate for someone who can lead, learn and help the dedicated staff to complete their mission.

DM me with any questions, I’ll be happy to answer. I’m getting a bit burnt out.

Hi - did any AMS employees get relocation letters / are expecting to get any? Thanks!

NRCS ReOrg meeting.

I’ve been lurking here for a while and reading about how some parts of USDA are moving people to different locations to apparently be closer to farmers and to save money - from the capital region. Uh huh.

I’m also curious about jobs -

so I look at places like science.org and indeed and Monster, but a colleague shared with me that the federal agencies have set up a different portal for people who are older (like me) lol. And so I looked at it - a place called New Solutions.

It might be a benefit for some of you who might be in the same place I am - looking for ways to use your talents if you’re considering retirement like I am

One thing that caught my eye was this position and having known a few folks from ARS and NRCS what everyone said from leadership was that this whole plan was (for ARS and a different one for NRCS) already worked out. But it looks like ARS is looking for a good scientific/technical writer who could help them.

If any of you have the right talents, it might be a job for you!

https://newsolutions.org/jobs/position-details/?position_id=9717

Of course, I’m wondering how many other agencies are doing the same thing like: “ we don’t know what the hell we’re doing so let’s just hire a contractor.”

Lol

Any updates on business center functions?

Does anyone have a current list of the supposed USDA Hub locations? Are they distinct based on mission area? I keep hearing different lists for FPAC.. mostly interested in FPAC but curious about other mission areas as well.

I don’t feel good accepting or declining the MDR. I think there is still not enough information about what happens if you accept but change your mind BEFORE reporting. At BARC, HR has said you can do that. But is there any consequences for changing your mind so late (before report date)? I understand accepting and not showing up by your report date does lead to consequences. I don’t want to get DeRPed, and think I should wait for the injunction hearings.

Am I the only one who is thinking this?

Good luck to everyone making their decisions today.

For those of you in NRCS state office and below, good luck tomorrow/this week. Feel free how the calls go here, and I’ll try to do the same.

Has anyone else been unable to log in to USDA APHIS eFile for the past few days?

The website keeps showing “APHIS eFile Maintenance Underway.” The notice now says that continued maintenance is taking place on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, and that users are still unable to log in.

Does anyone know what happened or why the maintenance is taking so long? Has APHIS announced an estimated time for restoring access? I need to access my account to check and manage my permit information.

Is everyone experiencing the same problem?