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Kansas Lawmakers Block USDA Office Closures After Cuts

6/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Rep. Derek Schmidt and Rep. Sharice Davids introduced the USDA Field Office Stability Act, which bars Kansas office closures unless an office lies within 20 miles and requires staffing.
The USDA cut 24,000 employees from September 2024 to December 2025, reducing Kansas farm service center staff by 32 percent.
Kansas Farmers Union leader Nick Levendofsky said the cuts forced Mitchell county offices onto temporary staff, limiting farmers’ access to conservation and credit programs.

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Story summary

Rep. Derek Schmidt and Rep. Sharice Davids introduced the USDA Field Office Stability Act, which bars Kansas office closures unless an office lies within 20 miles and requires staffing.
The USDA cut 24,000 employees from September 2024 to December 2025, reducing Kansas farm service center staff by 32 percent.
Kansas Farmers Union leader Nick Levendofsky said the cuts forced Mitchell county offices onto temporary staff, limiting farmers’ access to conservation and credit programs.