Rollins reassures county officials on tariffs, USDA offices

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday she hopes USDA services aren't disrupted due to the termination of leases for Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service offices. And, speaking of impending tariffs on trade partners, she told farmers that they should trust President Donald Trump.

“He's always talked about [tariffs] as being an important part of his tool kit to make America great again, but also within the context of the ag community and potentially what the consequences could be,” Rollins told reporters following a speech to the National Association of Counties. “And his message to me … and his message, frankly, to the ag community is, ‘trust me.’”

“At the end of the process, hopefully sooner rather than later, we will be ushering in an era of prosperity for our farmers and ranchers that perhaps we haven't seen in our lifetimes,” Rollins said, reiterating the message she delivered at Commodity Classic in Denver on Sunday.

She also reiterated the administration is considering using the Commodity Credit Corporation to compensate farmers hurt by trade wars.

“We do need to make sure that that fund is available to mitigate a lot of what potentially could come,” she said.

The termination of leases for FSA and NRCS, which Agri-Pulse reported Monday, has gotten the attention of some members of Congress, Rollins acknowledged.

“I am in touch with a lot of senators and House members who are obviously concerned, and I understand that,” she said. “I mean, these [county-based employees] are the front-liners that interact and engage with our farmers and our ranchers every day.” She said that “everything's under review … hopefully there's not been any disruption.”

But she also said she is emphasizing customer service.

“I think that a lot of these FSA offices are excellent. And I think the people that have been there for a long time, through Republicans and Democrats, who know their communities and other farmers – those are the sorts of people that we're looking to ensure are able to continue to do their jobs.”

However, she continued, “Those that maybe haven't shown up the last few years, those where we've seen a real significant decline in interaction with the community that they're there to serve – that is what this whole-of-government approach looks like.”

In an emailed response to a question after the speech about lease terminations, a USDA spokesperson said Rollins "fully supports President Trump’s directive to improve government, eliminate inefficiencies, and strengthen USDA’s many services to the American people. Consolidating certain field offices helps ensure that the American people’s hard-earned taxpayer dollars are used effectively while USDA continues to prioritize the delivery of essential services to farmers, ranchers, and producers.” 

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In her speech, Rollins told the county officials assembled at the Washington Hilton that funding tied to contracts signed before the Trump administration’s arrival had been unfrozen.

“Commitments that were made before we came and were inaugurated ... will be preserved,” she said. “We are beginning to release funds now.”

However, USDA also is reviewing all programs “as quickly as possible.”

“So as we are right-sizing the ship, we are ensuring that … we are putting the funds where they belong.”

Rollins told the NACo crowd she wants to “revivify” rural America.

“Restoring rural prosperity isn't simply about bringing back jobs to these communities, although it's very important,” she said. “It's about restoring hope to our small towns, to our rural communities across the country, and protecting and preserving the quintessential American way of life.”

“Too many young people are leaving their hometowns and not going back,” she said. “We need to make small-town America more attractive again. But here's the good news. Since 2020, we have seen a reverse in one trend: More people have moved into rural communities than those who have moved out. The ship is turning, and now we need to put it on steroids and watch it go.”

The secretary also said the department would partner with other federal agencies as well as state and local governments “to develop [a] bold new strategy to revive our rural communities. Your partnership will be paramount in these efforts."

Details are forthcoming, but Rollins said a few principles would guide the strategy.

“We will ensure that USDA Rural Development programs are running as efficiently and effectively as possible to support the people they are intended to serve,” she said. “We are carefully considering how we can improve programs to incentivize greater growth and in some ways to get government out of the way to ensure that happens.”

The private sector will be invited to take part, “encouraging innovative solutions such as satellite internet, new and better healthcare options, excellent childcare in schools and bringing housing to rural America,” she said.

Then, in a statement that got a healthy round of applause, she said, “We will also acknowledge that the federal government is not always the best solution, and we will look for ways to restore more power to you and returning that power to the local leaders who know your communities better than anyone in Washington.”

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This story has been updated with a USDA spokesperson's comment about field office consolidation.