State leaders react to the local USDA office remaining open
Eduardo Morales
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Multiple politicians such as U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego and State Senators Tim Dunn and Brian Fernandez advocated for the USDA office to remain open.
“Politics aside, all of us are here just to make sure that our community is able to prosper,” State Senator Fernandez says.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) planned to close the office for cost-saving purposes.
State Senator Dunn says keeping the doors open affects more than just agriculture.
“Just the community outreach and the programs that they have that’s for our community, so having that local access is very important instead of having to go three hours to the Phoenix office,” Dunn said.
Meanwhile, Senator Fernandez explained how the local political leaders banded together.
“We sent a letter, Senator Dunn and I and many others to USDA and talked about the importance of Yuma County and the country’s agriculture security, and you know for many other reasons we really needed that office,” Fernandez says.
Meanwhile, Charlene Fernandez, the former USDA Rural State Director, shares how influential it was to have both political parties working together to keep the office open.
“I think it’s important that we see it from all walks of life, whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, if you just happen to be that farmer that maybe didn’t even vote, it doesn’t matter. I don’t have a party affiliation, but I am growing in this community, so that showed that unity was important,” she said.
We reached out to the USDA for comment, but they are unable to speak with us at this time.