California is initiating a review of the gray wolf’s protected status under the federal and state Endangered Species acts.
A year-end California Department of Fish and Wildlife study found that five of the state’s seven active wolf packs have met the definition of successful breeding pairs. Based on the 2026 Wolf Conservation Plan, the department can now initiate Phase 2 of its wolf management strategy.
In addition to reviewing protective status, Phase 2 allows CDFW to look at more stringent alternatives for ranchers to fend against wolves.
On that note: In the coming months CDFW will release an online tool providing GPS location information of collared wolves and a report of wolf management activities over the last decade.
Becerra announces campaign for CA governor
Xavier Becerra has announced his bid for the 2026 California gubernatorial race.
The former Health and Human Services secretary’s 35 years in politics started in a Los Angeles Assembly seat, where he served a single term. He quickly made the jump to Congress, serving a total of 24 years. During his congressional tenure Becerra conducted bipartisan working groups to overhaul the immigration system at large.
Becerra resigned from Congress in 2017 when then-Governor Jerry Brown appointed him to California attorney general. After terming out, Becerra was appointed to HHS in 2021, where he served until President Donald Trump’s second inauguration day.
As AG, Becerra sued the Trump administration over several water issues, including a proposal to raise the Shasta dam, and was outspoken against Trump for undermining state authority on water project certifications. During his time at the HHS, Becerra was tasked with working with U.S. Department of Agriculture leadership to review the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and guide the national health strategy.
Among Becerra’s initial campaign promises, his platform focuses on cost of living and cutting red tape for small businesses. In an announcement video he assures Californians he’ll “rebuild the California dream.”
Becerra adds to the growing pool of democratic hopefuls, with many waiting to see whether former Vice President Kamala Harris throws her hat into the ring.
GOP assemblymember accepts LA U.S. Attorney's Office appointment
Assemblymember Bill Essayli of Riverside will be the next U.S. attorney for the Central District of California.
“In just over two years, we have achieved major victories to restore common sense in Sacramento,” Essayli wrote in an X post celebrating the state GOP’s momentum on parental rights, illegal immigration and voter identification.
Despite only completing a single term, Essayli became a key figure in the state’s Republican identity, often making headlines for his out-loud stances against the legislative supermajority.
The Central District is the largest judicial district in the country, representing roughly 20 million people. Essayli served the district as an assistant U.S. attorney prior to his legislative tenure.
“I intend to implement the President’s mission to restore trust in our justice system and pursue those who dare to cause harm to the United States and the People of our nation,” Essayli wrote.
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As Trump unveils new duties, Senate delivers a rebuke
Just hours after President Trump announced sweeping new duties on U.S. trade partners, multiple senators from his own party sided with Democrats to rebuke his trade policy.
Four Republicans joined Democrats in voting to challenge the emergency declaration used to justify tariffs on Canada: Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine.
The House has already blocked a vote on a similar resolution, so the bill has little chance of overturning the tariffs. But its sponsor, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., \ plans to force similar votes on other tariffs imposed using emergency powers.
Tariffs on the European Union will “be my next focus,” Kaine told reporters.
Why it matters: The administration used emergency powers on Wednesday to impose a 10% baseline tariff as well as higher reciprocal duties on countries with which the U.S. has persistent trade deficit. A future resolution challenging this declaration could also see a floor vote under expedited procedures.
Take note: Even some Senate Republicans who voted against Kaine’s resolution were unsure about the new tariff announcements. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told Agri-Pulse he is concerned.
“It's kind of a high risk bet he's making on the economy,” Johnson said. “He may be right.”
“I'd like to be optimistic, but it's with an abundance of caution.,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. said. “There's a real threat out there, particularly in agriculture.”
Ag’s reaction: The American Farm Bureau Federation is among the farm groups raising concern about the tariffs.
“Tariffs will drive up the cost of critical supplies, and retaliatory tariffs will make American-grown products more expensive globally,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said in a statement. “The combination not only threatens farmers’ competitiveness in the short-term, but it may cause long-term damage by leading to losses in market share.”
Ag input suppliers are sounding the alarm as well. The American Seed Trade Association said the tariffs could “significantly increase costs associated with seed production.”
Read our full report at Agri-Pulse.com.
Ag chairs coordinating on farm bill, reconciliation
Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman, R-Ark., says he and his House counterpart are in the early stages of deciding how to move parts of the farm bill into reconciliation.
Boozman met with House Ag Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., on Wednesday to discuss potentially moving risk management provisions from the farm bill into reconciliation.
With the Senate introducing its latest budget blueprint Wednesday afternoon, Boozman said the two are still a long way from finalizing these details.
Meanwhile: GOP leaders hope to get the budget resolution through the Senate by this weekend. The blueprint sets vastly different spending cut goals for the Ag committees. The House is expected to find at least $230 billion in cuts over 10 years, while the Senate counterpart would be required to cut as little as $1 billion.
USDA opens applications for 2026 trade promotion programs
USDA is opening the application process for the department’s trade promotion programs: Market Access Program, Foreign Market Development Program, Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program, and Emerging Markets Program.
“These programs are a crucial step in sustaining long lasting economic growth in rural America,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement.
The application deadline is June 6.
Final word
"It's such an old-fashioned term, but a beautiful term: groceries. It says a bag with different things in it. Groceries went through the roof, and I campaigned on that." — President Donald Trump at the news conference announcing his tariff plan.
