Moving Federal Jobs out of Washington "Swamp" May Yield Unintended Consequences, Experts Warn
In his 2024 campaign, President Donald Trump promised to move tens of thousands of federal jobs out of Washington, D.C. and into "places filled with patriots who love America." But a similar effort during his first term, relocating the headquarters of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to Grand Junction, Colorado, resulted in an "unproductive debacle" marked by an exodus of experienced employees and a surge in vacancies, according to current and former senior BLM staff and a review of government records.
The relocation, which Trump touted as a way to "shatter the deep state," instead caused significant disruptions and damage to the agency’s operations. The move resulted in a near-tripling of vacancies, with only 41 out of 176 staff members accepting reassignments, and the agency’s relationships with Congress and other federal offices were complicated by the distance and lack of direct flights between Washington, D.C. and Grand Junction.
Former Trump officials, however, argue that the move was successful in boosting efficiency and attracting new applicants who wouldn’t have considered working in Washington, D.C. where the cost of living is higher. They also point to the ability of top staff to build better relationships with local government officials familiar with the public lands the agency oversees.
The Biden administration has announced plans to move the BLM headquarters back to Washington, D.C., citing the need to restore stability and expertise to the agency. Current BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning called the previous move a "wild and crazy time" for federal workers, warning that a similar effort could have similar unintended consequences in the future.
Experts predict that the next administration will face challenges in implementing such changes, including the risk of "kneecapping" agencies through the loss of experienced workers and creating logistical difficulties. "It’s a tremendous waste of time, money, and effort," said Mary Jo Rugwell, a former BLM state director, of the potential consequences.
Some sources also caution that the move may be used to thwart congressional oversight and serve special interests. "What you end up doing is forcing people to do things over and over and over again," said Rugwell.
The outcome of the relocation has led some to question the wisdom of repeating such an effort. "It’s years of opportunity cost when we could and should be focused on the work of the bureau, for public lands and the American people, and we had to instead focus on rebuilding the bureau," said Stone-Manning.
