A federal judge is considering a temporary pause on USDA plans to relocate employees across the country, a move that could affect where farmers access agency services. U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria said he may issue an administrative stay to give him more time to review a lawsuit challenging the Agriculture Department’s reorganization.
Chhabria said the stay could block USDA from moving forward with relocations until October 2. The court’s next hearing is scheduled for September 29.
The case follows a ruling last week allowing USDA to proceed with the relocations while urging plaintiffs to file a new lawsuit if they wanted to continue challenging the plans. Plaintiffs did so this week in Northern California. Chhabria stressed that a stay would not indicate whether the case has merit. He said the issues are complicated and that slowing the schedule would give him more time to review the case properly.
NAFB news service
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