Senators Demand Answers on Cancelled Ag Funding
According to a press release from the office of U.S. Senator Adam Schiff of California, he has joined Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota and other Democratic members of the Senate Agriculture Committee in demanding answers from the Trump Administration after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would cancel 145 awards totaling nearly $149 million. These awards were intended to help farmers and producers—particularly new and beginning farmers—gain access to land, capital, and markets.
The lawmakers expressed deep concern about the lack of transparency surrounding the funding cuts, noting that the USDA announcement offered no specifics on which awards were cancelled or why. They’ve asked Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to provide a full list of affected programs, recipients, and the legal justification for the terminations. They also want to know whether the money is being repurposed—and if so, how.
With the average U.S. farmer nearing age 60, the Senators emphasized the importance of investing in the next generation of agricultural producers. They warned that pulling these funds could directly harm farmers’ bottom lines, especially during one of the toughest farm economies in two decades.
For more from Senator Schiff, visit https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-sen-schiff-joins-sen-smith-in-leading-colleagues-in-pressing-trump-administration-for-answers-on-cancelled-funding-for-farmers-producers/
