USDA officials are defending a freeze on funding that has snagged several programs. In a statement to Agri-Pulse, the department says the Trump administration “rightfully has asked for a comprehensive review of all contracts, work, and personnel across all federal agencies. Anything that violates the President’s Executive Orders will be subject for review.”
The statement came in response to congressional Democrats’ demands that USDA justify its freeze on payments.
The USDA statement says those lawmakers will get a response “once Brooke Rollins is confirmed and has the opportunity to analyze these reviews.” Rollins is waiting on Senate confirmation to take over as ag secretary.
By the way: House Agriculture Chair Glenn “GT" Thompson, R-Pa., said it’s logical to give the incoming secretary time to evaluate everything they are responsible for.
“We’ve got a new president, a president who’s made a promise and quite frankly we need secretaries … confirmed in the Senate so that they can step in and do their job,” Thompson said. “You would want your cabinet secretary to have the opportunity of a fresh start.”
Duvall: Federal government must honor climate-smart ag contracts
The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, Zippy Duvall, is calling on the Trump administration to honor its funding commitments for climate-smart agriculture projects.
“If there are signed contracts and our farmers have started the process of implementing those contracts, we want to make sure that the federal government stands behind those contracts,” Duvall told Agri-Pulse.
“Don't leave our farmers out high and dry,” he added.
Agri-Pulse reported this week that the Trump administration has already suspended payments to some projects, potentially leaving farmers without reimbursement for work they had already done.
USAID staff being gutted
The U.S. Agency for International Development is being slashed to under 300 employees, according to a former USAID official, Atul Gawande. Just 12 people will be left in Africa, he says. The agency currently has about 10,000 direct-hire employees. Virtually all USAID staff were to be put on administrative leave starting today.
It remains unclear what will happen to food aid programs. An estimated $340 million worth of food has been left in limbo because of the gutting of the USAID staff and suspension of aid.
Judge pauses federal buyout offer
A federal judge paused a buyout offer made by the Trump administration to federal employees, scheduling arguments for Monday. The offer came last week in an email titled “Fork in the Road,” the same subject line billionaire and DOGE leader Elon Musk used after he bought Twitter.
More than 40,000 employees had accepted the offer as Thursday, according to the White House. There was no breakdown by department and agency. According to the Partnership for Public Service, 38% of USDA employees were eligible for retirement at the end of 2023. Some 63% of USDA employees in the senior executive service were eligible for retirement.
Former ag secretaries wary of RFK Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination will soon reach the Senate floor for a confirmation vote, and farm country and two former agriculture secretaries tell Agri-Pulse Newsmakers they remain concerned about the influence he could have on the industry. Kennedy is President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
While Dan Glickman, who served as ag secretary during the Clinton administration, praises RFK’s ideas about pursuing healthier diets, he was quick to say that “his science is pseudoscience.”
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“I don’t think he likes farm programs either,” Glickman adds. “So he’s gonna have to be restrained if he gets that job.”
Mike Johanns, who served as ag secretary during the George W. Bush administration, says, “What I would say to Robert Kennedy Jr. is ‘You have your department. Stay over there.’”
This week’s Newsmakers will be available today on Agri-Pulse.com.
Dems see some shared trade priorities with Trump’s USTR pick
Senate Democrats left a confirmation hearing for Trump’s pick for a top trade position convinced that there is ample alignment over trade issues. But they were unimpressed by Jamieson Greer’s defense of “erratic and chaotic” tariff policies.
“I think he's given pretty good answers,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., told Agri-Pulse after Greer’s confirmation hearing for U.S. Trade Representative.
Similarly, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., said she shares many of Greer’s trade views. “But he's going to be working for an administration that is currently suggesting that blanket tariffs are a way of raising revenue,” Smith added. “There's no common ground there.”
In his hearing, Greer defended Trump’s tariff threats on Mexico and Canada and echoed the president’s view that tariffs can be a tool to boost government revenues.
Lower grain prices lead to declining feed costs, ERS says
Lower commodity prices are leading to decreased feed expenses, helping bolster the livestock sector, the Economic Research Service says in its latest farm income forecast. “Spending on feed is expected to continue to decline in 2025, falling about 10%, following lower prices for feed grains,” said ERS economist Carrie Litkowski.
She said interest expenses and spending on fertilizer, pesticides, fuel and oils are also forecast to fall this year.
Overall, net farm income is projected to increase significantly this year, mostly because of an infusion of $31 billion in disaster aid and market relief assistance provided by Congress in December.
Senators take another stab at MCOOL
A bipartisan group of senators is making a fresh run at reinstating mandatory country of origin labeling requirements for beef products. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., are lead sponsors of the American Beef Labeling Act, which would require the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to find a way to reinstate country of origin labeling that adheres to World Trade Organization rules.
Mandatory country of origin labeling for beef and pork was repealed in 2015 to avoid WTO-authorized trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico.
Final word
“I tell you what: If we can’t get it [the farm bill] done this year, there’s a good chance we’ll never get a farm bill again.” – Former Ag Secretary Dan Glickman on Agri-Pulse Newsmakers.
