During the Trump administration's first 100 days, USDA eliminated four years of DEI staff training, saving $1.7 million. This move, highlighted by the White House, reflects a broader rollback of diversity and inclusion initiatives in government agencies.

Amid rising political spending and lobbying by major meat industry groups, the USDA finalized updates to the Packers and Stockyards Act. The regulatory changes, which include enhanced transparency and protections for livestock and poultry producers, aim to rebalance power in the agricultural sector and promote fairness for family farmers.

The article details criticisms of the USDA for historically excluding farmworker rights within the Farm Bill. Advocates argue that USDA policies focus on supporting agribusiness rather than protecting vulnerable, often undocumented, agricultural workers, spurring calls for legislative reforms that would grant farmworkers a stronger voice and better working conditions.

The USDA has launched the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program, allocating up to $65 million from the American Rescue Plan to help agricultural employers implement stronger labor standards. The program, targeting both U.S. workers and seasonal H-2A visa workers, includes provisions such as overtime pay, paid sick leave, and requirements for collective bargaining agreements in higher-tier participation levels.

On September 22, 2023, the USDA announced the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP) with up to $65 million in grants aimed at addressing workforce challenges in agriculture by improving working conditions, promoting fair recruitment practices, and facilitating safe migration pathways for workers.

In September 2023, USDA launched the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Grant Program, allocating up to $65 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to address agricultural labor shortages, reduce irregular migration by expanding legal pathways, and improve working conditions and labor protections for both U.S. and H-2A visa farmworkers.

An OpenSecrets profile has highlighted the extent of lobbying directed at the USDA by public relations firms and former government staffers. The profile underscores concerns over potential undue influence from corporate interests, which may undermine democratic accountability and favor authoritarian policy impulses.