The Agriculture Department is regularly consulting with lawmakers on its sweeping reorganization plan despite occasional friction with congressional appropriators, Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden said Monday.
“I think we have a good working relationship with them,“ Vaden told agriculture reporters, even as the Trump administration has asked Congress to back off on demands that office relocations be cleared first with the Appropriations committees.
“Every indication that I get from talking with these committee chairmen is that they are ready and willing and excited to work with us to make this a reality, and I look forward to working with them,” Vaden said at a meeting of the North American Agricultural Journalists.
Vaden’s comments come as the department prepares to move most employees out of the nation’s capital and staff up five “hub” offices by the end of this summer, allowing families with children to be in place for the start of the school year, he said.
