Office of General Counsel (Department of Agriculture)

Stored: Office of General Counsel (Department of Agriculture)

Office of General Counsel (Department of Agriculture) Type: Government Agency Parent organization: Department of Agriculture Top organization: Department of Agriculture Employees: Executive: General Counsel Budget: Not specifically itemized; included within USDA's total budget for FY 2024, which was approximately $25.3 billion. Address: 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250 Website: https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/about-usda/offices/office-general-counsel Creation Legislation: Established as part of USDA's organizational structure to handle legal matters, no specific founding legislation but operates under USDA's general authority. Wikipedia: Office of General Counsel (Department of Agriculture)

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Mission Provides legal advice, counsel, and services to the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA's agencies, and staff to ensure legal compliance, support policy formulation, and protect the Department's interests.

Services Offers legal opinions and advice on USDA programs and operations Represents USDA in legal proceedings and administrative hearings Drafts and reviews legislation, regulations, and contracts Manages litigation and dispute resolution

Regulations 7 CFR Part 2 - Delegations of Authority by the Secretary of Agriculture and General Officers of the Department

The Office of General Counsel (Department of Agriculture) serves as the primary legal advisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Mission

The mission of the Office of General Counsel (OGC) is to provide legal services and oversight to support the USDA in achieving its mission. This includes offering legal advice to the Secretary of Agriculture and all other officials and agencies within the Department on all programs and activities, ensuring legal compliance, and defending USDA in legal proceedings.

Parent organization

The parent organization is the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Legislation authorizing creation

The OGC was established under the general authority of the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1862, which set up the USDA, but there's no specific legislation cited for the creation of OGC itself.

Number of employees

The Office of General Counsel had approximately 276 employees in 2015 according to available data, though current numbers might differ.

Last total enacted budget

The last total enacted budget for the OGC is not publicly specified in the sources provided.

Leader's title

The title of the leader of this organization is "General Counsel."

Services provided

The OGC provides a wide array of legal services, including legal advice on program operations, policy formulation, contract drafting, litigation support, and representation in legal proceedings. It advises on matters of legislation, regulations, and administrative procedures, ensures compliance with federal laws, and represents USDA in judicial and administrative forums. The office also handles Freedom of Information Act requests, procurement issues, and civil rights matters.

Regulations overseen

While the OGC does not directly oversee regulations, it provides legal counsel on the development, interpretation, and enforcement of USDA regulations. It ensures that the Department's actions are in compliance with applicable laws, reviews proposed regulations for legal sufficiency, and may represent USDA in legal challenges to regulatory actions. OGC also advises on potential legal risks associated with regulatory decisions.

Headquarters address

The headquarters address for the Office of General Counsel is: 1400 Independence Ave SW, Room 107W, Whitten Building, Washington, DC 20250-1400, USA

Website

The website for the Office of General Counsel is [6](https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/about-usda/offices/office-general-counsel).

Wikipedia article title

There isn't a specific Wikipedia article titled for this office; however, you might find information under the broader "United States Department of Agriculture" article title.