WASHINGTON—USDA is taking a hard look at its operations and making changes to improve efficiency. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled USDA's Blueprint for Stronger Service, saying, "The USDA, like families and businesses across the country, cannot continue to operate like we did 50 years ago. We must innovate, modernize, and be better stewards of the taxpayers' dollars. We must build on the record accomplishments of farm communities in 2011 with a stronger, more effective USDA in 2012 and beyond."
The program is part of the Obama Administration's Campaign to Cut Waste, and is aimed at driving the economy by streamlining operations and cutting costs. When fully implemented, the changes will provide efficiencies valued at about $150 million annually.
As part of the plan, USDA will close 259 U.S. offices, facilities and labs across, as well as seven foreign offices.
In addition, according to a USDA press release, the Blueprint for Stronger Service includes 133 recommendations that affirm processes already in place, as well as 27 initial improvements, and other, longer-term improvements. The initial improvements include the following:
- Consolidate more than 700 cell phone plans into about 10;
- Standardize civil rights training and purchases of cyber security products; and
- Ensure more efficient and effective service to our employees by moving toward more centralized civil rights, human resource, procurement, and property management functions, creating millions of dollars in efficiencies without sacrificing the quality of our work.
