U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, along with Representative John Mannion, are pressing the Trump administration for answers on plans to close the Syracuse offices of key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies. The decision could impact rural communities and farmers who rely on federal programs for disaster relief, loans, and conservation assistance.
The administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is terminating the lease for the building that houses the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), and USDA Rural Development (RD). The lawmakers say the move threatens access to crucial programs and coincides with layoffs that have made it difficult for New Yorkers to reach USDA staff.
“These USDA agencies provide vital services to agricultural producers, scientists, and rural communities across New York,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and General Services Administration Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian. “The planned termination of the lease for the Syracuse office space, as well as the recent staffing cuts, could severely hamper rural New Yorkers’ ability to access crucial federal resources and assistance from the USDA.”
The lawmakers are requesting a response by March 31, outlining why the closure is being considered and how the USDA plans to ensure continued support for farmers and rural communities.
