[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6063200,"mediaKeyId","3270240-19603130a5b4173174f9c65685e97bf9","parentId",3270240,"title","USDA budget proposal trims research, prompts questions about food-aid and nutrition programs","audioSeconds",3316,"startMs",1701000,"endMs",5017000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3270240-19603130a5b4173174f9c65685e97bf9&start=1701&end=5017","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3270240-19603130a5b4173174f9c65685e97bf9/thumbnail_1701000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6063200/USDA-budget-proposal-trims-research-prompts-questions-about-food-aid-and-nutrition-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063200-87bb9783811ac65c4444195fb97bc9bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770775433&Signature=CCOMQNuYOe1B0QGSYWQndh4690tghfFVF9z6KkfqkguYApwUHd0K220Z8x7Jnn64ofkAnreZD1NPysOIQ~4BApbhMFk338XBRqL9gMK5X39-WG27t4yqmhl23uybWX-4CyN74MmONoh2nPqcE~m61nxVADh2SGABeDaTzIMX64jmCihkYB7kl4gCnKdPFmu~rZdfSASDh8upqCKh1ZlVNa8TSaEgxkXHfYMnEnH5SWKosPq6jTPM4QOVA-qjmvQxujt6tcyFpshcDKwWyO3lCabFM0DLYvyKx8RjJYEU2ELAG8idU5Ql8ByPHEf-2vKwsoJbiTkSoyV9xtUtwQtuKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations","date","2025-05-06T00:00:00Z","article","Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture that the administration's fiscal year 2026 discretionary budget identifies priorities and trims spending on some research programs and other initiatives.

“None of that will be compromised,” Rollins said of core research priorities while describing targeted reductions; she later told senators the Agricultural Research Service budget would fall from about $2.1 billion to about $1.9 billion in the proposal, a decline she described as focused on “outdated facilities.”

Ranking Member Senator Jean Shaheen said the top-line proposal “falls well short of the president's purported commitments to farmers and rural communities,” warning that cuts to research, rural development and nutrition programs would harm producers and households.

Why it matters: The discretionary portion of the USDA budget funds research, conservation, rural development and many nutrition and assistance programs that state agencies and producers rely on. Changes to those accounts can affect long‑term crop and livestock research, emergency responses and programs that move food to domestic and international recipients.

Major points from the hearing

- Research: Rollins described the FY2026 request as a “prudent” reprioritization and said the proposed change to ARS funding is aimed at closing or consolidating outdated facilities while preserving high‑priority science. She said the administration remains focused on “high priority” research but acknowledged a roughly 7% decrease in the ARS discretionary figure in the materials released Friday.

- International food aid: Rollins said the administration is “reapproaching” programs such as McGovern‑Dole and Food for Peace to align spending with what she characterized as the “best and highest use” of taxpayer dollars. She said the McGovern‑Dole program’s commodity component is relatively small compared with total program dollars and noted a review of program effectiveness.

- Domestic nutrition programs: Committee members sought clarity about WIC and SNAP. Rollins told the committee, “WIC is fully funded,” but other senators noted that the slimmed‑down FY2026 materials transmitted Friday did not include line items some members expected. Members asked USDA to provide clear, written confirmation of program funding levels.

- Administration rationale: Rollins framed the changes as part of a broader effort to reduce overhead and improve efficiency, saying USDA teams are “seeking to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse” while protecting frontline services such as farm loan and conservation offices.

Committee requests and next steps

Senators on both sides requested detailed budget documents and justifications. Chairman Hoeven and members set deadlines: written questions for the record were due by the committee’s stated date and Rollins agreed to provide written responses. Multiple senators said they would continue to press for program detail before appropriations language is finalized.

Ending

The hearing closed with Rollins reiterating her availability to members and the committee requesting more detailed budget documentation and program‑level explanations in the coming weeks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Subcommittee Hearing: A Review of the President's Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Department of Agriculture","oneSentenceSummary","Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture that the administration's fiscal year 2026 discretionary budget identifies priorities and trims spending on some research programs and other initiatives.","taxTitle","Appropriations: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1986,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6063186,"USDA expresses support for Maine PFAS research center during appropriations hearing",164,2237000,2401000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3270240-19603130a5b4173174f9c65685e97bf9&start=2237&end=2401","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3270240-19603130a5b4173174f9c65685e97bf9/thumbnail_2237000.jpg","/articles/6063186/USDA-expresses-support-for-Maine-PFAS-research-center-during-appropriations-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063186-e9957e9fe77f20d7d57b1e9d424091d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770775433&Signature=T8eL9JNKrbPtf2fB1uE2sbI6TAIQWK4Ugh2o7pinzIGXdy6QKZCYZQsre-o0AX-ki0kpyWOWJ93QGesRH1w1npCAW2GGbJIeWxKuHNM~7uwWx~BQlf2I9ZvBt2IdZzvTB041LC792qNyiVmJGsD1rUs-n~ZCKwpNnf~gjUZ-odMLtN9CAKrb88j7ZRBVrLCu7aV02FGfm6bMLyGkFCiydU8HEc0hOks7n08sfMJ3sXr9kwkd9Cw1xL6ikc30JFQRYSiJY64lFdTSvnGY9rc46mU5kC4tPIspuG~0g2NXNIyDUXbY8fmBQmJuQS-e5I8V2xtcUggHVKCG0yUxP4Ydlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Susan Collins told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture that the University of Maine is researching PFAS contamination on agricultural land and that she secured $17 million in fiscal year 2024 for ARS and the university to establish a PFAS Center of Excellence.

\"Will you continue to support the partnership between ARS and the University of Maine in establishing this research center to help our farmers?\" Collins asked.

Secretary Brooke Rollins said the issue is \"very close to my family's heart\" and said she remains committed to the research. In the hearing Rollins referred to a recent grant, saying, \"Very proud of that $7,000,000 grant to the Center for Excellence.\"

Rollins offered to learn more about the center's work and to consider visiting the facility in Maine to see the research firsthand. She told the committee she would continue to support PFAS research and follow up with senators who wanted more detail.

Why it matters: PFAS contamination in soils, sludge and water can affect producers' ability to sell products and has been the subject of federal and university research. State‑level centers that combine ARS and land‑grant university work can produce localized mitigation approaches for farmers.

Follow-up: Rollins invited continued engagement and said USDA would follow up with more detail about ongoing support for the center and potential visits.","Senator Susan Collins asked Secretary Rollins to continue support for an ARS‑University of Maine Center of Excellence on PFAS solutions; Rollins said she is committed and referenced a recent grant to the Maine center.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6063191,"USDA says it will prioritize frontline FSA, APHIS and firefighting jobs after 15,000 deferred resignations",0,3668000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3270240-19603130a5b4173174f9c65685e97bf9&start=3668&end=3668","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3270240-19603130a5b4173174f9c65685e97bf9/thumbnail_3668000.jpg","/articles/6063191/USDA-says-it-will-prioritize-frontline-FSA-APHIS-and-firefighting-jobs-after-15000-deferred-resignations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063191-fbb33480cc807e5b7b6379db7cc1c0de/orig.mp4?Expires=1770775433&Signature=X0B94UyHcdL4QOkoPuu8hyeDKL-bXJE96GIFrmzgZfsMrNppeoVCQ8q9fzn49LfFoF5~Op0k~ylN5v4lI34HNTlrPTh7uGHdgKjqmOZWA1DciXLT3ZFDrgifnsJoS6QUCi~boVVxP3hvTiq0AlwuDAq9Lt4-G-H5b69RS0Ff-73j2SMcVDNMBDvkRaXN-PrIgAovOsg-bM8iDXojriX~Mfbm7I24y0QXYz~XM43sDAxtGx~B~7sH0HNxT4HSYhG-aUaj9T7yLICXckutl-HDpMPa64fFBsJidDJeRF4SRovtPkp2ADQtJGEsrH7dznUXuHSDV1hrVJbJvSYU2DEIjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Secretary Brooke Rollins told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture that roughly 15,000 USDA employees accepted a deferred resignation option and that the agency is actively recruiting to refill mission‑critical positions.

\"None of those people were fired,\" Rollins said, adding that many of the departures were deferred resignations and that USDA is prioritizing re‑hiring in key operational areas. \"If they want to come back and if they were in a key position, then we would love to have that conversation,\" she told Senator Patty Murray.

Rollins said she signed a memorandum prioritizing frontline staff at Farm Service Agency county offices, APHIS veterinarians and wildland firefighters, and said it is not the administration’s plan to close FSA offices. She said there are approximately 4,500 FSA offices nationwide and that maintaining on‑the‑ground presence remains a priority.

Senators pressed about scientific staff at the Agricultural Research Service. Rollins acknowledged that the department’s workforce reductions were larger than typical annual attrition — she said USDA normally loses 8,000 to 10,000 employees annually — but characterized the recent departures as manageable and reiterated plans to protect critical research operations.

USDA reorganization and relocation

Senators asked about a plan to relocate parts of USDA away from Washington, D.C. Rollins said the department is \"very close\" to an announcement and that relocating staff closer to customers could be cheaper and improve service. She asked members to share suggestions for locations and said an announcement was forthcoming in the “coming weeks.”

Other operational issues

Senator Martin Heinrich pressed Rollins about a dispatch center in Silver City that coordinates air assets for wildfire response; Rollins said USDA has been in conversations with GSA and would work to keep mission‑critical centers operational for the coming wildfire season.

Why it matters: County FSA staff, APHIS personnel and wildland firefighting units provide daily operational support that producers depend on for loans, program enrollment, animal disease responses and disaster operations. Gaps in staffing or local offices can slow assistance and increase risk during wildfire or animal‑health emergencies.

Follow‑up: Rollins asked senators to identify specific vacancies or programs where they see service gaps; the department said it would target recruitment to prioritized positions and follow up with committee staff on specific staffing questions.","Secretary Brooke Rollins told senators the department is recruiting to refill critical county‑level FSA offices, APHIS veterinarians and wildland firefighting and that deferred resignations do not equal firings. She also said an announcement on planned relocations of some USDA functions is forthcoming.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6063195,"Senators press USDA on frozen grants, delayed disaster aid and paused local food programs",262,2568000,2830000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3270240-19603130a5b4173174f9c65685e97bf9&start=2568&end=2830","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3270240-19603130a5b4173174f9c65685e97bf9/thumbnail_2568000.jpg","/articles/6063195/Senators-press-USDA-on-frozen-grants-delayed-disaster-aid-and-paused-local-food-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063195-b2eafdc2f44d80797b6582fe6f9f4627/orig.mp4?Expires=1770775433&Signature=cJG4grD1No4Q-1wRKR7b0x4zpndD6cfmOCQR5FQjRNnD5n6VtboQ6Z3ZZHlLtAKaHd47IX6nCCDg3II0PjjsUEWHqnEC-cLQtJtavNV-7U0ZHvqA8skA97NnWevOywtP-1AOHTt5dLi36OlwVSg~uRXj5AMiAr0htsUJB8nkgM0ue83RvK~dEM9E8~jACVi5vOIM0jnFd5eJfqjN61qImS3Pel8IZE6wr2v~6YCnRNTxUsDn1UIA3ZmrvNh3f-k~gLH1hV~AnGwqwSOwqm0ViBwPctz9ReotU74DMoUjI5ljd6jbo~ifyvyRGNDruGjUmU71q8em66EJ4Xiq82lGsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators from New Hampshire, Maine, Wisconsin and other states told Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins that USDA‑issued awards and program funding remain frozen or delayed, creating uncertainty for producers and local partners.

Senator Jean Shaheen told the subcommittee that an $11 million RCPP award for the Connecticut River Conservancy is still frozen, and that months‑long delays have slowed seasonal work and increased project costs. \"When will USDA release the funding?\" she asked.

Rollins responded that USDA has worked to move funding and that, in total, the department was “down to the final $5,000,000,000 out of, I believe, almost $20,000,000,000 of frozen funds,” adding that some funds were pulled back and reopened with requests to reapply under the administration’s priorities.

Senators also pressed about disaster assistance. Rollins said the first tranche of emergency assistance — the market‑conditions based program Congress provided — began disbursing March 19 and that most ($arootnote) of that first $10 billion round had moved. She said the weather‑related $20 billion tranche would open for applications “within a matter of weeks” and that the portal should be open by the end of the month.

Local food and emergency food programs drew repeated questions. Senators said cancellation or pauses in the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA), Local Foods for Schools (LFS) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP/TFAP) disrupted contracts that farmers and food banks counted on. Rollins described those programs as COVID‑era authorities that, she said, still left many states with unspent funds in state accounts and argued the administration must ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently. She agreed to provide more details and to work with senators on cases where money had not been disbursed.

Dairy grants and other competitive awards also emerged. Senator Tammy Baldwin said more than 400 dairy businesses faced nearly $30 million in threatened awards; Rollins said following committee intervention the funds were released and apologized for any harmful delay.

Why it matters: Seasonal conservation work, local food purchases and small‑grant awards are time‑sensitive. Delays can raise costs, interrupt projects and leave producers without expected revenue.

Follow-up and commitments

Rollins asked senators to provide specific cases for the department to investigate and said USDA would follow up with updated state‑level figures. Committee members asked for written tracking and timelines for remaining frozen funds.","Multiple senators told Secretary Rollins that grant award letters and program contracts remain frozen and that delays are harming farms, conservation projects and local food banks. Rollins said the department is working through reviews and expected to open disaster‑relief applications within weeks.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

USDA budget proposal trims research, prompts questions about food-aid and nutrition programs

USDA expresses support for Maine PFAS research center during appropriations hearing

USDA says it will prioritize frontline FSA, APHIS and firefighting jobs after 15,000 deferred resignations

Senators press USDA on frozen grants, delayed disaster aid and paused local food programs