FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Tel. 347.563.6408
Release: Unlawful Federal Funding Freeze Causing Confusion and Harm on Farms and in Communities Nationwide
Secretary of Agriculture nominee Brooke Rollins must quickly restore order and ensure USDA honors its legal commitments to farmers, communities
Washington, DC, February 7, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) expressed anger over the continued uncertainty and confusion borne by farmers and rural communities following weeks of mixed messages from the new Administration.
“During the past several weeks, we have heard directly from countless farmers and food system stakeholders who have been told, without explanation, that their grant or contract payments have been paused or that they cannot be reimbursed despite a signed lawful contract. Until USDA honors its commitments, farms and rural jobs will continue to be threatened, even lost,” said Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director.
On January 20, President Trump issued several Executive Orders that have frozen federal spending widely, resulting in delays, cancellations, and halted projects that directly and daily serve farmers, families, and rural and urban communities in every US state. Although a government-wide memo implementing a broad funding freeze across government agencies and programs was later rescinded and two court orders have since ordered federal funding to restart, funding remains frozen across USDA research, technical assistance, marketing, and conservation programs. Neither lawmakers nor USDA officials can answer questions about why the freeze continues despite court orders nor when it will be lifted to allow the continuation of projects and programs in communities and on farms.
“The bipartisan Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 that President Trump signed into law has guided much of USDA’s spending in recent years. Unlawful pauses to these authorized programs or terminations of their grants must be lifted immediately to avoid further impact on jobs and livelihoods. The Administration, including the Office of Management and Budget, must provide clarifying guidance to USDA and the public lifting all pauses and beginning reimbursements,” Lavender added.
Select Impacts of Continued Funding Pauses or Delays:
- Farmers are being told that their NRCS conservation contract payments are paused, leading not only to lost opportunity to implement or complete conservation efforts but leaving farmers with the threat of insurmountable debt.
- Cutting off critical technical assistance that farmers rely on for market access, conservation, and more from trusted community partners.
- Organizations are preparing for layoffs or delaying new hires in rural communities due to funding uncertainty, exacerbating unemployment and creating economic uncertainty.
- Cancelling conferences and farmer training.
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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more: https://sustainableagriculture.net/
