By SNN Newsroom | October 14, 2026
A federal judge in California has temporarily halted important portions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s reorganization, restricting specified office closures and employee relocations while a lawsuit brought by unions and other plaintiffs continues.
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria issued the October 13 order in American Federation of Government Employees v. USDA, Case No. 3:26-cv-09976. The judge granted interim relief under 5 U.S.C. ยง705 after determining that the plaintiffs were likely to prevail on a claim concerning congressional limits on spending for reorganization activities. The ruling focuses on whether USDA may use appropriated funds to carry out specified changes without satisfying congressional restrictions.
The order covers designated USDA components, including agriculture research, Rural Development, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and other mission areas identified in the order. It prohibits certain closures and relocations beyond the local commuting area, subject to enumerated exceptions. It does not automatically require employees who started at new stations before the court’s initial September 14 stay to return to their previous offices.
The judge ordered USDA to notify affected employees and unions within two business days and file a declaration about its compliance within seven business days. Those steps will provide a way to test implementation against the court’s instructions.
The administration has described its plans as a way to move services closer to agricultural communities. The plaintiffs dispute the restructuring’s lawfulness and warn of consequences for workers, research capacity and services. The temporary order does not resolve all claims or permanently prevent a future reorganization; the court noted that relevant appropriations restrictions may expire or be changed by Congress.
Document: October 13 federal court order (Document 107). Additional reporting: Reuters, October 14.
