Kent Conrad: “Workforce reductions at Farm Service Agency as well as other agencies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture have…”

“Workforce reductions at Farm Service Agency as well as other agencies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture have impacted the quality of services provided. Employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture have expressed concern that fund transfers authorized by Section 8 of S. 2116 would be made from an agency's Salary and Expenses budgets and could result in additional workforce reductions. Given the increasing workload at Farm Service Agency field offices in many States, I feel that it is vital that this concern be addressed. Mr. Chairman, is it your intention that fund transfers will be made in a manner which does not jeopardize funds available for salaries?”