USDA Reorganizes Food and Nutrition Programs, Relocates Key Functions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is undergoing a significant reorganization, renaming the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) as the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) and relocating key program functions from the Washington, D.C. Area to eight locations across the country. The moves, announced on April 30, 2026, aim to improve program efficiency and better serve program participants.
Program Relocations
Several key programs within the FNA are being relocated. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will move to Indianapolis, Indiana. Child Nutrition Programs will be relocated to Dallas, Texas, while Supplemental Nutrition and Safety Programs will be moved to Kansas City, Missouri. Research programs are heading to Raleigh, North Carolina, and Emergency Management and Continuity of Operations will be based in Denver, Colorado. Retailer operations and compliance will be distributed across offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York City.
Maintaining a D.C. Presence
Despite the widespread relocation, the FNA Administrator will remain in Washington, D.C., along with a modest team. This team will focus on responsiveness to Congress, interagency coordination, regulatory work, and policy development.
Part of a Larger Reorganization Effort
This reorganization is part of a broader USDA initiative to move approximately 2,600 of its 4,600 employees from the National Capital Region to regional hubs. The department recently announced reorganizations within the Research, Education and Economics mission area and the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Ensuring Program Continuity
USDA officials have emphasized that these shifts in customer service will not disrupt program execution or efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse within its 16 nutrition assistance programs. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden stated, “This reorganization is long overdue.”
Alignment with Federal Government Structure
According to the USDA, the shift to the Food and Nutrition Administration will better align the agency with other benefit programs administered across the federal government. The reorganization also aims to reduce management complexity and prioritize the needs of state services and program participants.
The USDA has not yet announced a specific timeline for the completion of these transitions.