USDA may have violated law in controversial office relocation decision, inspector general says
Source: CNN
USDA may have violated law in controversial office relocation decision, inspector general says
By Gregory Wallace, CNN
Updated 1742 GMT (0142 HKT) August 6, 2019
Washington (CNN) — The US Agriculture Department's inspector general has concluded the department may have violated the law when deciding to relocate two offices from the Washington, DC, area.
USDA has justified its decision to relocate the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture offices to the Kansas City area for both financial reasons and to put the researchers closer to the agricultural heartland.
But it is seen by critics as a swipe at the agency's scientific expertise and was largely unwelcome with agency employees. Those offices unionized, and around 70% told union organizers they would not make the move. Some physically turned their backs on Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue at a public meeting where he addressed the move.
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The department told the inspector general it believes the law requiring it to obtain congressional approval before spending money to relocate offices is unconstitutional.
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Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/06/politics/usda-relocation-inspector-general/index.html
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