Another Iowan could soon be stepping into a key USDA leadership role, while the department also looks to reshape how it operates across the country.
Senator Joni Ernst says Glen Smith is moving through the confirmation process for a USDA under secretary role, calling him a strong fit because of both his farming background and experience in Washington.
Ernst says Smith’s confirmation would give Iowa another voice at the federal level during a period of major changes inside the USDA.
She says those changes also include efforts to reduce waste tied to largely vacant federal office buildings in Washington.
Ernst points specifically to the USDA South Ag building, which she says is only about one-third occupied despite taking up nearly a full city block.
She says the building carries roughly $1.7 billion in deferred maintenance and continues to cost taxpayers hundreds of millions annually, even while much of the space sits unused. Because of that, she says the building is expected to eventually head to auction following required federal review.
Ernst says the broader goal is to move more USDA jobs into regional offices around the country so employees are closer to the farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses they serve.
She says that shift, combined with Smith’s expected confirmation, could strengthen USDA’s ties to farm country while reducing long-term costs in Washington.
