Maryland Fights USDA Over $200 Million Job Relocation Plan

Maryland’s top fiscal official is challenging a major federal relocation plan. Comptroller Brooke Lierman is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to abandon its proposal. The plan would move hundreds of high-specialty jobs out of Prince George’s County. Lierman warns this USDA job relocation could devastate the state’s economy.

She submitted a formal public comment to the federal agency this week. The Comptroller argues the move would dismantle a dedicated workforce built over decades. It also puts nearly $200 million in annual economic activity at serious risk.

Quantifying the Economic Impact of Federal Job Loss

The Comptroller’s office has analyzed the potential damage. The plan targets the headquarters of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Data from the Office of Personnel Management confirms the scale. In fiscal year 2023, 872 ARS jobs were based in Maryland.

These positions generated over $103 million in wages for workers. The majority of these employees live in central Maryland counties. Uprooting them would cause significant personal and economic disruption.

A Broader Trend of Federal Disinvestment

This USDA proposal is not an isolated incident. According to the Comptroller, Maryland has already lost an estimated 15,000 federal jobs this year. The state is now actively tracking the financial consequences of these shifts.

Lierman’s office is partnering with the University of Maryland. Together, they are producing a detailed report on the economic impact. The goal is to provide concrete data to policymakers and the public. The findings will underscore the long-term risks of federal disinvestment.

The fight over the USDA job relocation highlights a growing tension between state and federal priorities. Maryland officials are determined to protect their economic interests and highly skilled workforce. The final decision will have lasting consequences for the region’s stability.

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What specific USDA agency is being relocated?

The plan involves relocating the headquarters of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). This is a key scientific research agency within the USDA. Its current headquarters is in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

How many Maryland jobs are directly at risk?

There are 872 ARS jobs currently based in Maryland. Of those, 701 are held by residents of the state. These are high-wage, specialized scientific and administrative positions.

What is the total estimated financial loss?

Comptroller Lierman estimates a nearly $200 million annual loss. This includes over $103 million in wages and $86 million in federal contracts. Another $4.3 million in university research grants is also threatened.

Which parts of Maryland would be most affected?

Workers live primarily in Montgomery, Prince George’s, Howard, and Anne Arundel counties. The direct economic impact would be concentrated in these central Maryland communities.

What is Maryland doing to counter this plan?

The state is formally submitting objections to the USDA. It is also quantifying the economic impact through a partnership with the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. The resulting report will detail the consequences.