USDA Responds to Resident Commissioner, Deeming Rural Development Offices in Puerto Rico as ‘Mission Critical’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following a March 27 letter led by Congressman Pablo José Hernández Rivera, Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner in Congress, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that the Rural Development offices in Puerto Rico are considered “mission critical” and should not be closed as part of the agency’s lease terminations under review.

The confirmation came in an official response from USDA’s Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development, Todd Lindsey, which noted that the agency has formally requested the General Services Administration (GSA) reconsider planned terminations at 43 out of 47 USDA office locations nationwide, including the ones located in Hato Rey, Mayagüez, and Utuado.

“I am very glad of USDA’s recognition that the Rural Development offices in Puerto Rico are essential to serving our communities,” said Hernández. “From housing assistance to rural communities and small businesses, these offices play a direct and irreplaceable role in the lives of our rural residents. Now we must ensure GSA follows through and keeps these offices open.”

The USDA letter notes that while GSA has not yet responded to the Department’s request, USDA has identified nearly 90 percent of its GSA-leased locations that are subject to termination as mission-critical facilities. USDA has emphasized the need of keeping these offices open and will continue coordinating with GSA to preserve access to vital rural services.

“These offices are not just lines on a budget – they are lifelines for farmers, families, and businesses across rural Puerto Rico. I will continue to press for a final decision that respects the needs of our people,” Hernández added.

The Resident Commissioner’s March 27 letter was co-signed by several members of Congress, including U.S. Representatives John W. Mannion (D-N.Y.), Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), Stacey E. Plaskett (D-V.I.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), and Nellie Pou (D-N.J.). The letter emphasized the serious consequences that the proposed closures would have on underserved communities. USDA’s response confirms that the majority of the sites flagged for potential closure are, in fact, public-facing and essential to the agency’s mission.

Click HERE to read USDA’s response letter and HERE to read the Resident Commissioner’s March 27 letter.

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