Why NOC Weighed In on USDA’s Reorganization Plan

September 2025 — On July 24, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins issued memo SM-1078-015 outlining a department-wide reorganization. The National Organic Coalition (NOC) submitted formal comments because the plan could unintentionally weaken the National Organic Program (NOP) at the very moment strong oversight is most needed.

Read our full comments ➜

What’s at stake

  • Integrity of the organic seal. The NOP’s specialized staff and institutional knowledge are the backbone of enforcement. The program has already lost about one-third of its team to departures; further attrition risks slower investigations and weaker fraud prevention.

  • Essential D.C. coordination. While most NOP employees are field-based, a core D.C. team coordinates policy, engages Congress, and works across agencies—especially with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to stop fraudulent imports. Dispersing that core could fragment communication and delay decisions.

  • High return on investment. Every $1 invested in NOP staff and operations supports more than $3,000 in retail value in a $70B+ organic market. Losing experienced personnel is costly and hard to quickly replace.

What we asked Secretary Rollins to do

  1. Protect and restore NOP staffing and leadership so the program can do its job effectively.

  2. Maintain a strong D.C. presence for NOP’s core policy, enforcement, and interagency roles.

  3. Avoid relocation requirements that would force remote NOP staff to report to new hubs and trigger avoidable departures.

  4. Safeguard interagency partnerships, especially with CBP, FSA, NRCS, and RMA, that are critical to organic integrity and farmer access to services.

  5. Engage the organic community before making changes that affect NOP capacity and enforcement.

Why it matters now

Consumer trust in USDA Organic drives domestic markets and creates real opportunities for U.S. farmers and local economies. Weakening NOP capacity—intentionally or not—puts that trust, and those opportunities, at risk.

Take action BY SEPTEMBER 30

  • Ask Secretary Rollins to protect NOP staffing and resources and keep a strong D.C. team in place. Send a message by September 30 ➜

  • Share this update with farmers, brands, and advocates who rely on a trusted organic seal.

Questions? Contact Abby Youngblood, Executive Director, National Organic Coalition — abby@nationalorganiccoalition.org.

Abby Youngblood