WASHINGTON, DC — Rather than being housed only in the nation’s capital, the USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services agency — which oversees key government nutrition assistance programs such as SNAP and WIC — is reorganizing and relocating its leadership via a hub-and-spoke structure as part of the introduction of the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA). This moves the organization’s program compliance across several major US metropolitan areas.
USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins shared that this reorganization aligns with her commitment to prioritize customer service and reinvigorate these government programs.
“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,” she said.
While the FNA administrator will remain in Washington, DC, for proximity to Congress and interagency needs, the rest of the programs are scattered from coast to coast. Relocations include moving SNAP to Indianapolis, the Child Nutrition Program to Dallas, and the Supplemental Nutrition and Safety Programs to Kansas City, MO.
Raleigh, NC, will house research programs, and Denver will now serve as the home base for the Emergency Management and Community of Operations office. Retailer operations and compliance will be spread out across four offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas and New York.
Patrick Penn, the deputy undersecretary for the USDA, noted that transitioning the agency to operate from regional offices will improve program support across the US.
“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,” he said.
The USDA noted that the relocation of these offices will not disrupt the execution of the programs or its work to “eliminate fraud, waste or abuse.”
