The USDA imposed a funding freeze on the state of Maine following a federal judge’s temporary restraining order. The freeze, enacted amid conflicts over the state’s non-compliance with Title IX in relation to trans athlete policies, has been criticized as an authoritarian measure that restricts essential services to vulnerable populations.

A U.S. District Court judge issued an order to unfreeze federal aid to Maine after the USDA, under the Trump administration, had frozen funding to the state over a dispute regarding Title IX compliance related to transgender students. The action targeted Maine’s state nutrition program and was part of an effort to enforce a discriminatory policy.

The USDA finalized crucial regulatory updates to the Packers and Stockyards Act, including a new Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting rule aimed at curbing discriminatory practices and enhancing fairness for independent contract farmers amid aggressive industry lobbying.

The USDA finalized updates to the Packers and Stockyards Act and introduced a new Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments rule. These regulatory changes aim to rebalance power away from consolidated meat industry monopolies and support family farmers by enhancing transparency and fairness.

Senators Booker, Welch, and Representative Casar introduced the bicameral Child Labor Exploitation Accountability Act, which would bar the USDA from engaging in contracts with companies that have committed serious labor law violations, including child labor. The bill aims to ensure that federal funds do not support firms with exploitative practices.

A Forbes article published on July 24, 2023, highlighting a study in Nature, brings attention to the prevalence of forced labor in the U.S. food chain. The findings underscore serious labor rights violations and supply chain ethical issues within sectors overseen by the USDA, suggesting a failure to adequately monitor and address exploitative practices among food producers.

On 2023-04-12, USDA sent a letter to the 18 largest meat and poultry processors, representing about 70% of production volume, urging them to implement precautionary measures to prevent or eliminate the use of illegal child labor in their supply chains. The initiative, coordinated with the U.S. Department of Labor, aims to enforce compliance with child labor laws and enhance oversight within the food processing industry.

In an April 2023 letter, the USDA warned meat and poultry companies to rigorously enforce due diligence measures in their supply chains to prevent child labor violations, emphasizing both legal and moral responsibilities.

In 2022, as part of a broader response during the farm bill reauthorization debate, the USDA expanded its SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot program to improve digital access for food assistance. This move aims to enhance food security for low-income Americans by adapting to modern shopping trends, especially as corporate lobbying intensifies around nutrition programs.