By Jamie Martin
In the first 100 days of the new administration, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has made significant changes to the USDA, putting American farmers first.
Rollins ended many Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives started during the previous government and redirected funding to more farmer-focused programs.
On her first day, Rollins issued a directive to stop all DEI-related programs and events. The department is now promoting unity, equality, and merit-based support. She also reviewed how funds from the Inflation Reduction Act were being used and started cutting programs that did not directly benefit farmers or ranchers.
One of the biggest actions taken was cancelling over 3,600 USDA grants and contracts, saving over $5.5 billion. Rollins also stopped nearly 1,000 employee training sessions—most of which focused on DEI, environmental justice, or gender topics.
“It is absurd that while the Biden Administration was driving up inflation, American taxpayers were forced to fund billions in woke DEI initiatives. American farmers and ranchers don’t need DEI, they need reduced regulations and an Administration that is actively putting them first,” said Secretary Rollins.
Rollins also paused USDA funding for Maine and California to review whether they were following federal guidelines. In Maine, she cited concerns about unequal treatment in education programs. In California, she questioned research funding use.
In addition, the USDA cancelled the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC), which had high administration fees. These funds will now be redirected to ensure more money reaches farmers directly.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National