Dont ComplyGovernment Executive reports that the Agriculture Department's Natural Resources Conservation Service sent employees a management-directed reassignment letter dated Oct. 28, telling them they are "permanently reassigned." The letter, signed by Acting Associate Chief Scott Edwards, says geographic reassignment will not take effect until the court injunction is lifted. On Oct. 13, Judge Vince Chhabria of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco stayed USDA's relocation plans, barring it from "issuing or enforcing MDR letters or any other notice or directive of reassignment or relocation in whole or in part." Government Executive says sending the notices appears to violate the order. USDA has appealed to the Ninth Circuit, which left the stay in place for now. A USDA spokesperson said the department "is complying with the court order" but did not elaborate.
Why it matters
The reported notices raise the question of whether a federal agency is honoring a court order that restricts its reorganization, which affects about 2,600 employees. Government Executive reports that many employees say they cannot relocate and expect to quit if the plan proceeds.
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