An Illinois lawmaker is leading a charge to relocate the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from Washington, D.C., into the heartland of America. State Rep. Regan Deering, R-Decatur, introduced House Resolution 177, urging President Donald Trump and Congress to move the USDA to central Illinois.
Deering argued that agriculture belongs where the crops are, not in the bureaucratic corridors of Washington. She emphasized that central Illinois — home to agribusiness giants like Archer-Daniels-Midland, Gromiant, and Gromark — would provide a better environment for agricultural policy than the D.C. swamp.
“Bloomington and Decatur are hubs for agricultural innovation and some of the best producers in the country,” Deering said, citing nearby universities like Illinois State University and the University of Illinois as additional strengths.
Deering connected her push to the Strategic Withdrawal of Agencies for Meaningful Placement (SWAMP) Act, a federal initiative seeking to move agencies out of Washington and closer to the people they serve. She said moving the USDA would lower costs for taxpayers and invigorate the local economy with its skilled workforce, affordable housing, and strong quality of life.
Concerns over the direction of the farm bill also motivated Deering’s resolution. She pointed to the growing focus on welfare programs within the bill, saying the USDA’s relocation would refocus attention on farmers who feed the world, not bureaucratic welfare expansions.
Deering, whose grandfather Dwayne Andreas helped build ADM into a global powerhouse, said relocating the USDA could streamline government operations. She noted it could also result in a smaller, more efficient workforce, aligning with President Trump’s push for government efficiency and reduced agency bloat.
The proposed move reflects broader conservative efforts to decentralize government, trim bureaucracy, and reconnect agencies with the communities they are supposed to serve.
