The Agriculture Department is reviewing 15 of its programs amid ongoing Trump Administration scrutiny over spending, according to a list provided to Agri-Pulse on Thursday by Senate Ag Committee ranking member Amy Klobuchar's office.
Among the programs that have been affected by the freeze are the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Program and the Farm Loan Borrower Relief Program.
Also listed is the Rural Energy for America Program, though the USDA on March 26 alerted awardees that it would lift its freeze on REAP and give grant recipients 30 days to voluntarily modify their proposals to better align with Trump administration policies.
Klobuchar mentioned the list of 15 programs in a hearing Tuesday, which she said was sent to the committee by USDA that morning.
“The Department of Agriculture must uphold its commitment to farmers and rural Americans by releasing these funds," Klobuchar said in a statement. "Given the economic turmoil farmers, ranchers and rural America are facing right now, Congress must continue to obtain additional information from USDA about any ‘paused’ funding. I look forward to continued updates from USDA as they evaluate paused programs.”
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Farmers who are awaiting payments from Inflation Reduction Act funds have sued to get reimbursed. That case is pending.
In response to an Agri-Pulse inquiry, a USDA spokersperson provided a statement that said, “While USDA can confirm ongoing review of most of these programs, USDA offered this information to the Ranking Member in response to her ongoing oversight inquiries. Taking that good faith exchange and introducing it to the press is unfortunate.”
The list provided by Klobuchar's office contains the following programs:
- American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment Program
- Bioproduct Pilot Program
- From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals
- Infrastructure Investment and Job Act Joint Fire Science Program (Research & Development)
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Restoration/Revegetation
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Capital Maintenance and Improvement
- Forest Service Reverse 911 Grant Program
- Forest and Grassland Collaboratives
- Rural Energy for America Program
- Regional Conservation Partnership Program
- Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities
- Conservation Outreach, Education and Technical Assistance
- Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program
- Farm Loan Borrower Relief Program
- DSA COVID Relief Program
For more news, go to Agri-Pulse.com.
