Senators Push USDA for Clarity on New Farm Loan Reviews

Some members of Congress are raising questions about a recent USDA policy change that could affect how certain farm loans are reviewed. A group of Senators, including Georgia’s Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, sent a letter to the agency about a memo from the Farm Service Agency. That memo reportedly requires that some loans—those over $500,000 or those made to business entities like LLCs—must be cleared not only by the USDA’s Chief Financial Officer but also by staff from the Department of Government Efficiency.

The lawmakers say this could raise privacy concerns and potentially cause delays for qualified borrowers—especially at a time when farmers are facing financial uncertainty. They also asked if artificial intelligence will play any role in the review process and what privacy safeguards are in place.

While the USDA has recently made changes aimed at simplifying the loan application process, the Senators say they want to make sure this new policy doesn’t create unintended barriers for farmers trying to access the credit they need.

For more: https://www.schiff.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25.5.6-Letter-to-USDA-Farm-Loans.pdf