Eight out of nine California Department of Agriculture field offices slated for closure will remain open, following intervention by Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA notified Senator Schiff that they are working with the General Services Administration (GSA) to keep the offices operational. Offices in Bakersfield, Blythe, Los Angeles, and Salinas have had their termination notices rescinded.
The Mount Shasta office and a newly added Brea office are still slated for closure. The USDA is in discussions with the GSA regarding the Mount Shasta office, exploring whether services can be relocated.
The USDA stated they support optimizing building capacity and consolidating underutilized offices, while maintaining prioritized services for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
Senator Schiff, along with other Democratic lawmakers, urged the USDA and GSA to prevent the closures. Their letter highlighted the significant negative impact on farmers already facing economic uncertainties due to factors including USDA funding freezes, cancellations, and tariffs.
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