usda

Farmers Face Frozen Jobs and Heavier Workloads Under DOGE ‘Efficiency’ Budget

Christine Peterson / High Country News Apr 21, 2025 Billions in halted or canceled grants, gutted local offices, market turmoil and broken trust are at stake across the West. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Labor

USDA Moves To Make Meatpacking More Dangerous

Whitney Curry Wimbish / Sentient Apr 8, 2025 By removing regulation on the speeds of processing lines, the agency is increasing the likelihood of worker injuries. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Environment

Inside the Push To Save a Biodiverse National Forest From Drilling

Lee Hedgepeth / Inside Climate News Apr 1, 2025 Conecuh National Forest is a biodiversity hotspot. Could oil and gas development put that at risk? Dig deeper ( 9 Min. Read )

Economic Justice

‘Our People are Hungry’: Federal Food Aid Cuts in a Warming World

Ayurella Horn-Muller, Naveena Sadasivam / Grist Mar 18, 2025 The USDA’s decision to cut $1 billion in food aid is causing layoffs, supply shortfalls and the end of donations at charitable groups across the country — all as hunger continues to climb. Dig deeper ( 9 Min. Read )

Courts & Law

Trump May Put Hundreds of Federal Buildings Up for Sale — Including USDA and DOJ

Jennifer Shutt / Michigan Advance Mar 5, 2025 The 440 buildings and assets listed for potential sale represent more than $8.3 billion in “recapitalization needs,” according to Trump’s General Services Administration. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Environment

When Insuring Crops Ensures Climate Mistakes

Mark Schapiro / Capital & Main Jun 28, 2023 Crop insurance is one of many hidden ways the USDA has been masking the impact of climate change on farmers. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

White House Seeks to End Michelle Obama Guidelines on School Nutrition

CAROLE FELDMAN / The Associated Press Jan 17, 2020 The impact will be less fruit and vegetables and more foods like pizza and fries in the meal program that serves 30 million children. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Food Stamps Could Be Stripped From 3 Million Americans

Jake Johnson / Common Dreams Jul 23, 2019 Critics view the Department of Agriculture's proposal the latest effort by the Trump administration to bypass Congress to attack low-income families. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The Trump Administration Wants to Make It Harder to Access Food Stamps

Ilana Novick Dec 20, 2018 The Agriculture Department proposes adding tougher work requirements. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

USDA Uses Algorithm to Target Small-Business Owners in Its Crusade Against SNAP

Ilana Novick Oct 8, 2018 Convenience stores and small groceries find themselves in the crosshairs; one New York grocer is losing over 35 percent of his business. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Drug Testing Plan Considered for Some Food Stamp Recipients

JULIET LINDERMAN and JONATHAN LEMIRE / The Associated Press Apr 11, 2018 If a plan allowing states to require certain food stamp recipients to undergo drug testing comes to fruition, it will be a win for conservatives seeking ways to curb the safety net program. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

A Wide-Open Door for Pesticide Lobbyists at the Agriculture Department

Robert Faturechi / ProPublica, and Danielle Ivory / The New York Times Nov 15, 2017 One former lobbyist now leads the department's deregulatory team, and visitor logs show old ties remain strong. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )