The Trump administration is poised to release $3 billion in aid that had been frozen due to the government shutdown, aiming to assist farmers facing challenges.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins discussed what’s ahead during an appearance on NewsNation’s “The Hill.” She teased a significant announcement for the following day, prompting host Blake Berman to encourage her to share it right then.
Rollins mentioned, “We would love to do that, and there might be an event at the White House too. This is the first time we’re making this known. There’s a major announcement coming tomorrow about our plans to recover and enhance the U.S. cattle herd, which should help drive prices down.”
White House officials instructed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to deploy funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation to assist farmers, particularly focusing on major crops like corn and soybeans.
This development was initially reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The impending aid announcement, slated for a White House reveal on Wednesday, follows a difficult period for farmers impacted by the trade conflict. Farmers have experienced significant setbacks, particularly as countries such as China have reduced their soybean imports amidst rising tariffs affecting supply prices.
A USDA spokesperson informed The Hill, “On Thursday, USDA will restart core operations of the Farm Service Agency, which includes crucial services and programs for agricultural loans and ARC/PLC payments.”
The spokesperson further indicated that “President Trump remains committed to backing America’s farmers and ranchers. This action opens up billions in aid that has been stalled by Congressional Democrats for over 20 days.”
China, noted as the largest purchaser of U.S. soybeans, has shifted its focus to Argentina recently due to the ongoing tariff disputes with the Trump administration. Argentina recently eliminated a 26% export tax on soybeans, resulting in China purchasing over a million tons from there, as reported by Reuters.
In recent times, U.S. farmworkers have lost their position as top corn sellers to China, with foreign markets turning to Brazil instead. Additionally, farmworkers affected by trade issues are now facing a reduced labor force, worsened by the White House’s deportation policies. Farmers are increasingly worried due to difficulties accessing USDA customer services and loans during the government shutdown.
Rollins conveyed to NewsNation that the administration is intent on creating opportunities for farmers amidst the trade war. She mentioned, “The president emphasized on ‘Liberation Day’ that if there’s a need to support farmers caught in the middle of conflicts—that’s particularly relevant for soybeans—we’ll be proactive in bridging that gap.”
She also noted that the government shutdown is hindering additional aid, mentioning that the USDA relies on a variety of programs and staff whose work has been disrupted by furloughs. “So once the shutdown is resolved, Democrats, let’s get the government open. We’ll reveal that program then,” she stated.
Other officials from the Trump administration have expressed optimism for improvements on the horizon. The president is expected to visit Asia next week for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference in South Korea, where he plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
On Sunday, President Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he intends to persuade the Chinese government to resume soybean purchases “at least at the previous levels” and “to halt fentanyl production.” He later remarked, “That’s just normal,” which seemed somewhat reassuring amidst the current challenges.
