The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will reopen about 2,100 Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices across the country to help farmers and ranchers access roughly US$3 billion in aid from existing programs. The reopening will take place on Thursday, 30 October, despite the ongoing federal government shutdown.
Each office will operate with two employees who will be paid during the shutdown, according to the USDA. The FSA offices manage applications for farm loans, crop insurance, disaster relief, and other agricultural support programs. Many other federal employees, including air traffic controllers, continue to work without pay.
A USDA spokesperson said the reopening reflects President Donald Trump's intent to maintain agricultural services. "President Trump will not let the radical left Democrat shutdown impact critical USDA services while harvest is underway across the country," the spokesperson said.
Funding for the partial reopening will come from the Commodity Credit Corporation, a USDA agency that manages agricultural price stabilization. A White House official said on condition of anonymity that these funds will allow temporary operations.
Several Republican lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, and North Dakota Senator John Hoeven, supported the move, as did various farm organizations such as the National Corn Growers Association. Thune said reopening offices would restore access to "critical services in the midst of harvest season."
"Like many hardworking Americans, producers in South Dakota and across the country – who work tirelessly to provide high-quality food for our nation – are being hurt by Senate Democrats' reckless government shutdown," Thune said.
Farmers have raised concerns about delayed payments and restricted access to federal programs during the shutdown. Kenneth Hartman Jr., chairman of the Corn Growers Association, said the timing is critical as growers prepare for the next planting season and finalize seed, fertilizer, and financing decisions.
"Because of the inflation factor, the farm economy is really in a critical situation here. So anything that the farmers can get when it comes to support from the farm programs from the farm bill of last year, we need to get that open and get that money out to them," said Hartman, who farms near Waterloo, Illinois.
Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee criticized the administration for acting too late. In a post on X, the committee wrote, "You chose not to because you'd rather use farmers' pain to score cheap political points." Minnesota Representative Angie Craig added, "I am glad the administration is finally doing right by America's farmers by partially opening FSA offices, though I question why the administration waited so long."
Source: Federal News Network
