The USDA, under Trump-appointed leadership, has canceled contracts and grants associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives inherited from the previous administration, while embarking on an aggressive international travel agenda to expand market access for American farmers. The policy shift, highlighted by a Fox News opinion piece, marks a clear departure from progressive priorities.

The USDA registered a 2,000-acre ecological preserve in Texas that houses red wolves produced through advanced genetic modification techniques by Colossal Biosciences. This regulatory action is part of the agency’s oversight in ensuring that conservation projects meet established standards and maintains accountability in the use of cutting‑edge biotechnology.

USDA froze funding to Maine in response to trans inclusion in girls’ sports following President Trump’s executive order. This action, which led to a referral to the Department of Justice and a lawsuit by Maine officials, is viewed as coercive and politically motivated.

DOGE announced the termination of 113 federal contracts valued at $4.7 billion, including a USDA consulting contract for Peru's climate change activities. This cancellation is part of a broader cost-cutting effort by the federal government, which may undermine progressive investments in environmental and agricultural sustainability.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a pause and full review of federal funding to Maine after the state refused to comply with a Trump administration directive aimed at banning trans athletes in girls' sports. USDA Secretary Brooks Rollins stated that funding would only resume if Maine protected female athletes from trans inclusion, framing the issue as opposing a 'leftist social agenda.'

On April 2, 2025, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins signaled a policy reversal by announcing that the department would cease funding DEI initiatives, including the controversial DEI seed packets. This decision, following a directive aimed at ending equity action plans, represents a shift away from progressive measures designed to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in federal agencies.

The USDA is offering staff buyouts and early retirement packages to employees following an executive order by President Trump to reduce the federal workforce. Affected employees who opt in will be placed on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until late September 2025, while the agency restructures its operations.

The USDA’s recent funding cuts and freezes for programs supporting local dairy farmers and food banks have exacerbated economic hardships for farmers facing higher costs from tariffs and trade tensions.

In response to soaring egg prices and disruptions from the bird flu outbreak, the USDA announced a comprehensive $1 billion plan that includes biosecurity funding, vaccine research, and farmer relief programs. This initiative aims to secure domestic egg production while temporarily supplementing supplies through imports from Turkey and South Korea.

USDA's official political activity webpage features Secretary Rollins publicly thanking President Trump for his trade actions, exemplifying an executive endorsement of policies viewed by many anti-fascist groups as complicit in the rise of authoritarianism.

The USDA reported political contributions of $1,458,434 in the 2024 cycle with no reported lobbying or outside spending. This transparent disclosure suggests a measured approach to political engagement that does not overtly support authoritarian practices, aligning with democratic accountability.

The article argues that the 1942 reorganization of the USDA was not a benign restructuring, but a deliberate maneuver to diminish its operational mission and open the door to regulatory capture. By aligning the agency more closely with the interests of the agricultural lobby, the reform undermined the USDA’s ability to serve public interest, thereby contributing to a landscape where corporate and special interests can influence policy to the detriment of democratic accountability.

On January 27, 2025, under President Trump's administration, the USDA—nominated for leadership by Brooke Rollins—rolled back long‐standing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and purged the department's independent inspector general. Critics say these moves undermine accountability, marginalize already vulnerable groups in agriculture, and signal an authoritarian realignment in federal food and agriculture policy.

On January 21, 2025, the USDA announced a slate of senior staff appointments, including Kailee Tkacz Buller, Preston Parry, and others, explicitly chosen to implement President Trump's America First agenda. These appointments signal a reinforcement of policies aligned with a far-right, authoritarian approach, potentially undermining equity and marginalized communities.

The USDA finalized updated regulations, including the Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments rule, aimed at safeguarding family farmers and ensuring fair business practices amid a landscape of intense meat industry lobbying and political contributions.

The USDA has finalized updated regulations including revisions to the Packers and Stockyard Act and a new poultry transparency rule aimed at addressing discrimination and increasing fairness for family farmers. These actions come amid a surge in political lobbying and spending by major meat industry groups.

A July 2023 study published in Nature Food highlights that over 60% of forced labour risk in the US food supply stems from domestic production and processing, raising concerns about worker exploitation and potential oversight failures by the USDA. The study emphasizes the vulnerability of migrant workers and the need for stronger national regulation and worker-centered approaches.

An OpenSecrets profile for 2023 shows that 1,043 clients lobbied the USDA, raising concerns about the agency's vulnerability to corporate and political influence in its policy-making processes.

An examination of human rights challenges in the agriculture supply chain, including labor rights violations such as child labor, low wages, and human trafficking, as well as unethical supply chain practices. The article calls on companies in the sector, including oversight bodies like the USDA, to adopt more robust standards to protect vulnerable communities and prevent exploitation.

A criminal investigation under Operation Blooming Onion exposed forced labor, human trafficking, and systematic exploitation within the U.S. agricultural industry. The report details how migrant workers on the H2-A visa program were compelled to work in inhumane conditions with little or no pay, highlighting significant failures to protect labor rights.

On April 21, 2021, the USDA issued a request for comments on vulnerabilities in the supply chains for agricultural commodities and food products, focusing on risks including forced labor, human rights abuses, and geopolitical disruptions. This public call for input aims to strengthen ethical supply chain practices and increase resilience through improved transparency and accountability.

The USDA facilitated a cooperative agreement with the Fair Labor Association to pilot guidelines aimed at eliminating child and forced labor within agricultural supply chains, specifically in the hazelnut industry in Turkey. This initiative is designed to enhance labor standards and ethical practices in sourcing agricultural products.