Trump's USDA takes shape

Politico

27-01-2025

With help from Marcia Brown
QUICK FIX
— President Donald Trump's plans for agriculture are coming together at USDA.
— Trump has started undoing equity work and fired the independent watchdog responsible for monitoring USDA.
— The president is starting to roll out his use of tariffs as a negotiating tool — and it'll likely have significant impacts on U.S. agriculture and prices of imports.
IT'S MONDAY, JAN. 27. Welcome to Morning Agriculture. I'm your host Grace Yarrow, wishing I could be watching the Smithsonian's Panda Cam. Send tips and panda pics to [e-mail] and follow us at @Morning_Ag.
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Driving the day
ICYMI: Senators met last week to hear from Trump's nominee for Agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, on key ag issues like trade, immigration and nutrition.
The committee will vote at a future meeting — timing still TBD — on advancing Rollins' nomination to a full Senate vote. She's expected to sail through the process with Democratic support.
What you need to know: Senators' top questions for Rollins included how she would support U.S. agriculture as Trump rolls out his tariff and mass deportation plans.
Rollins said, if confirmed, that she will continue to back Trump's agenda, as a close ally of the president, but work with other agencies and staff to address those concerns.
Some Democrats, who have said they're 'open-minded' about Rollins' nomination, are still hoping for more clear answers on her approach to DEI, bird flu, nutrition and immigration at USDA.
Republicans continue to point to Rollins' relationship with Trump as a crucial strength that will help her defend the needs of the agriculture industry in the administration and during Cabinet talks.
In the meantime, Trump's agriculture priorities and federal agency plans are starting to come to fruition with overhauls of the workforce and efforts at USDA.
TARIFF BATTLES BEGIN: Trump said Sunday that he'd be slapping an emergency 25 percent tariff on all goods imported from Colombia on Sunday after the country's president turned away two U.S. military aircraft full of detained Colombian migrants.
U.S. and Colombian officials reached an agreement last night to allow the U.S. to hold off on tariffs for now, as Colombia is allowing 'unrestricted acceptance' or deportation flights of migrants, per the White House. Colombian President Gustavo Petro pledged to retaliate with tariffs of his own, but also appeared to back down Sunday night.
Sunday's action was the first test of Trump's ability to use the tariff threats as a negotiating tool — and it paid off. But the clash with Colombia over the weekend is only the start of a slew of sweeping tariff threats Trump will be rolling out against top trading partners like China, Mexico and Canada in coming days.
Ag industry concerns: Ag representatives and lobbyists have been sounding the alarm for months about how Trump's sweeping tariff plans could have negative impacts on U.S. ag exports.
Multiple Trump allies on Capitol Hill have brought up the importance of trade to farmers and the ag industry in their discussions with Rollins, who herself acknowledged that tariffs were one of the 'top issues' the senators have raised.
AROUND THE AGENCIES
PUSHBACK ON DEI MOVES: Addressing historic equity concerns at USDA was a priority under the Biden administration. But one of Trump's executive orders aims to eliminate government programs and initiatives under the diversity, equity and inclusion label.
In an email sent to all USDA staff last week, the administration urged employees to share any programs that might be obfuscated by 'imprecise language' or potentially face 'adverse consequences.'
Webpages associated with USDA's equity work — including its Equity Commission's report recommending DEI steps for the department to take — appear to be unavailable.
Dems' resistance: Democrats are criticizing the Trump administration's DEI rollback, saying they will impede the department's ability to help farmers.
Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) told MA that she's 'frustrated' by Trump's moves at USDA.
'First off, people have to know, our agriculture agencies are already underfunded and understaffed,' Salinas said. 'So to cut additional people right now is not helpful at a time when we are trying to roll out these programs that our farmers depend on. It's only going to make matters worse.'
She added: 'It's going to make farm bill negotiations really difficult, because it feels like we're going to have to backfill some of these positions that he's cutting out.'
Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.) added in a brief interview in MA that 'agriculture touches every corner of this country, whether you're in an urban area or a rural area, whatever your economic status, or gender and racial identities.'
'I just think we want to make sure our federal government reflects that diversity.'
INSPECTOR GENERAL PURGE: Trump also fired multiple independent federal watchdogs, known as inspectors general, in a Friday night purge, removing a significant layer of accountability for those agencies including USDA. (That move will likely face significant legal backlash.)
USDA's inspector general has taken the lead on reporting mishandled funds distributed by USDA, including wrongfully obtained or fraudulent crop insurance payments or other federal grant money.
They also have conducted investigations on USDA's handling of food safety and inspection duties — a key role given major recent outbreaks like listeria in deli meat.
Capitol Hill fallout: 'There may be good reason the IGs were fired. We need to know that if so. I'd like further explanation from President Trump,' Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said in a statement to POLITICO. 'Regardless, the 30 day detailed notice of removal that the law demands was not provided to Congress.'
House Ag Committee ranking member Angie Craig (D-Minn.) said in a statement that the purge was 'alarming and unprecedented.'
She said the move at USDA 'hampers our ability to combat waste, fraud, and abuse and ensure programs are run as Congress intended, whether its disaster assistance for farmers or nutrition programs.'
MORE STAFF DEVELOPMENTS: Before the president headed to California Friday, Trump announced two new wildfire prevention appointments to USDA to lead the administration's 'focus on forest management.'
Kristin Sleeper will be deputy undersecretary for natural resources and environment. She previously worked as professional staff for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Ag Committee. She also directed policy for the National Alliance of Forest Owners, which represents companies that own private forests.
Tom Schultz will be chief of staff at USDA for natural resources and environment. He previously was vice president of resources and government affairs, leading timber procurement, for the Idaho Forest Group. Schultz testified before a House Ag Committee panel in 2022, urging for updates to the Good Neighbor Authority and reforms to stewardship contracting tools in the upcoming farm bill.
The Trump administration has already nominated several undersecretaries for USDA, who will handle key programs for farmers and help Rollins (if confirmed) run the department.
Other personnel news: Trump's executive orders targeting the federal workforce have injected a fresh wave of anxiety among employees across the bureaucracy — stoking fears the president is coming for their jobs, our colleagues report.
Row Crops
— In his first senatorial letter, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) wants Trump to act on his campaign promise to bring down food prices by addressing bird flu, which has sent egg prices skyrocketing.
— Expect record-high egg prices for most of the year. (CNN)
— The State Department halted spending on most foreign aid grants for 90 days but created an exception for emergency food assistance, our colleagues report.
— Former House Ag member Kristi Noem was confirmed as DHS secretary.
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