Comment: Proposed USDA Budget Undermines Farmers and Rural Communities

Washington, DC, May 2, 2025 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) issued a statement in response to the Trump Administration’s release of its “skinny” budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 discretionary funding. Based on the few details that are available, the Administration’s proposal would seemingly slash the US Department of Agriculture’s funding by over $4.5 billion in FY2026 alone, with deep cuts to Rural Development, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Farm Service Agency, among others. The following comment is attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director:

“It’s hard to imagine a more effective roadmap for undermining rural communities and the farmers, families, and individuals who call them home. Congress should reject the Administration’s proposal and continue its work to craft a responsible, bipartisan FY2026 agriculture appropriations bill that invests in economic opportunity for agricultural communities nationwide.”

NSAC invites comments here.