In her first six months, Donald Trump’s second agriculture secretary has altered the course of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She says prosperity is ‘just around the corner.’ But staffing cuts and restricted research could have long-lasting impacts.
About 10% of the 15,000 federal employees who have left the U.S. Department of Agriculture worked for Rural Development, the agency most responsible for federal investment in farming communities.
By stretching one congressional day to 7,056 hours and claiming it’s the only day left in the session, Republicans have ensured that no vote can be forced to overturn Trump’s national emergency — keeping his tariff war locked in place.
More than a dozen recently fired USDA employees told Investigate Midwest that mass terminations have stalled irrigation projects, rural housing aid and efforts to combat invasive crop diseases. Remaining staff are overwhelmed; farmers may not receive much needed timely help, former staff say.
Trump’s rapid dismantling of federal agencies is disrupting key government oversight functions. Critics say cuts at the EPA will stall investigations into industrial ag pollution in marginalized communities.
During his second term, Trump is expected to ease regulations on water protections, agricultural emissions, and industrial pollution. With federal oversight potentially shrinking, the spotlight shifts to state laws and environmental advocacy.
Backed by the powerful corn lobby, Marquis Energy’s push to bury carbon emissions underground has sparked a fierce debate in Illinois politics. The ethanol plant is banking on carbon capture technology to secure federal tax credits.
U.S. Sen. John Boozman, an Arkansas Republican, has received tens of thousands of campaign donations from employees at Tyson Foods, one of the country’s largest meat companies.
A new GAO report warns that rapid growth of H-2A program could impact workers' rights. These workers might be even more important under a second-term Donald Trump, who supported the program in the past.
