Outcry as US agriculture department to cut salaries and relocate staff

Experts warn half-baked' restructuring will further erode support for US farmers and hamper wildfire response

Thousands of employees at the US Department of Agriculture will be forced to take salary cuts and relocate out of the Washington DC area, as part of a major restructuring that experts warn will further weaken support for American farmers and complicate wildfire response.

In a memorandum issued on Thursday, the agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, outlined the key pillars" behind the department's reorganization, focused on reducing its financial footprint, removing resources from the capital, eliminating management and consolidating workforces responsible for a range of functions, including freedom of information requests, tribal relations, grants and human resources.