Agriculture CIO transitions to role modernizing farmers’ records
Melissa Kopka/Getty Images
ByEdward Graham,
Managing Editor, Nextgov/FCW
September 14, 2026 06:08 PM ET
USDA CIO Sam Berry will help implement the agency’s One Farmer, One File effort to create streamlined internal records for farmers.
The Agriculture Department’s top IT official is stepping down from his position to join an agency modernization initiative, a USDA spokesperson confirmed to Nextgov/FCW on Monday.
Chief Information Officer Sam Berry officially joined USDA last September, when he replaced longtime agency CIO Gary Washington. Berry previously served as an advisor at Agriculture for the cost-cutting — and controversial — Department of Government Efficiency.
“Sam Berry has been a tremendous USDA CIO,” an agency spokesperson said in a statement. “He will now be assuming a new role at USDA where he will be focused on the implementation of One Farmer One File.”
USDA announcedthe technology modernization initiative in February, saying...
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