House Democrats Blast Trump’s Proposed $4.9B Agriculture Budget Cuts
House Democrats denounced Trump’s plan to cut $4.9 billion from agriculture programs as Secretary Brooke Rollins defended the proposal during a tense hearing.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Democrats criticized President Donald Trump’s proposed $4.9 billion cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a hearing Thursday, as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins defended the budget while promising bipartisan cooperation.
The proposed USDA budget for fiscal 2027 would reduce nearly one-fifth of the department’s funding, targeting programs that assist farmers and provide food aid to hungry Americans. Democrats on the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee argued the cuts come at a time when rising costs for groceries, gas, and other necessities make these programs more essential.
“It’ll be hard for our constituents to believe that USDA serves America’s farmers and rural communities when USDA is taking away their services,” said Sanford Bishop of Georgia, the panel’s ranking Democrat.
Millions Already Lost Food Aid
The budget proposal builds on previous cuts that have already reduced food assistance. Due to the Republican spending and tax cuts law passed last year, 2.5 million people have lost access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the department’s major food assistance initiative.
Trump’s overall budget request seeks a boost in defense spending while cutting domestic programs across multiple agencies. The USDA cuts represent one of the most substantial reductions in the president’s fiscal plan.
Secretary Pledges Cooperation
Despite defending the budget proposal, Rollins projected a cooperative tone during the hearing, telling both Democrats and Republicans she would work to address their priorities. The Agriculture Secretary offered to field direct phone calls from several committee members to discuss their concerns.
When Michigan Republican Rep. John Moolenaar raised concerns about foreign growers undercutting U.S. sugar producers, Rollins said she was prepared to tackle the issue in upcoming trade negotiations.
The hearing highlighted the tension between the Trump administration’s budget priorities and congressional concerns about maintaining support for agricultural communities and nutrition programs. The House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee writes the annual spending bill for the USDA, giving it significant influence over the final budget.
The proposed cuts would affect various USDA programs that support farmers in need and provide essential nutrition assistance to low-income families across the country. Committee members from both parties expressed concerns about the potential impact on their rural constituents.
