Reuters · October 14, 2026

Federal Judge Blocks USDA From Proceeding With Planned Reorganization

• A federal judge blocked the U.S. Department of Agriculture from proceeding with its planned agency reorganization, as reported by Reuters.
• The ruling, from the District Court for the Northern District of California, halts reorganization efforts at several USDA agencies, including the Agricultural Research Service, the Forest Service, and the Food and Nutrition Administration, according to the report.
• Judge Vince Chhabria said the agency was using congressional funds for a purpose other than the one intended, and wrote that Congress did not contemplate USDA using appropriated funds to shut down offices or relocate employees, according to the report.
• The reorganization sought to move about 2,600 employees from the Washington region and to consolidate agency offices across the country, according to the report.
• A USDA spokesperson said the department is reviewing the decision and will file its response with the court, according to the report. Unions had sued to block the reorganization, according to the report.

USDA response documented in the source, as stated above. This card is based on the accessible portion only. Original headline: "Federal judge blocks planned US farm agency reorganization".