Cuts and Consequences for Agriculture in the Line of DOGE Fire

“If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.” — Dodgeball 

But agriculture isn’t dodging DOGE—and the balls being thrown keep compounding.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently announced cuts to USDA to eliminate offices and grants for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS).

FSA and NRCS sent to the DOGEhouse: Reports indicate 59 FSA/NRCS offices will be terminated as part of an effort to cut costs, according to DOGE. Their estimations indicate a savings of nearly $30M by closing these offices. Not to mention, several of the employees helping farmers with conservation efforts were fired because of DOGE. (Although that’s also TBD—a federal appeals board ordered about 6K USDA employees to return to work through April 18.)

Cuts for efficiency: The new administration’s Secretary of Agriculture supports this move. A department spokesperson said Brooke Rollins “fully supports President Trump’s directive to improve government, eliminate inefficiencies, and strengthen USDA’s many services to the American people.”

Congress claps back: The Senate and House Ag Committees, however, defended against this move. Senate Ag Committee chairman John Boozman said, “America’s farm families must continue to access the services and benefits they rely on from USDA amid ongoing changes and reviews by the administration.”

Can’t dodge a wrench: All of this, plus the Trump administration is cutting more than $1B in grants tied to local and regional food markets, while also continuing to freeze conservation contracts.

Dodge, duck, dip, dive… defund?