Highlighting Actions that Impact the Food System

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Due to rapid changes by the Trump administration as well as litigation, readers

should check the news and the links provided to verify. There are dozens of 

pending actions, each  proceeding individually. This page provides only the 

major highlights.

 

Here are some helpful links tracking lawsuits filed:

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• Just Security: Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions

• Here Are All The Major Lawsuits Against Trump And Musk—As 19 States Sue 

Over DOGE’s Treasury Access, Forbes (Feb. 7, 2025)

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For tracking administrative actions, here are some additional sources: 

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• U.S. Government Information: Trump Trackers, UC San Diego Library​

• NY Times Tracking: All of the Trump Administration Major Moves in the First 18 Days

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Agency Leadership

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For a listing of pending nominees subject to Senate Confirmation, visit the U.S. Senate, Nominations in Committee website.​

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Nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture, USDA

• Nomination (Jan. 20, 2025)

• Confirmation hearing

• Written testimony

• Senate Committee Approval

• Confirmed, sworn into office (Feb. 13, 2025)

• First speech to USDA staff (welcome ceremony at USDA)

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Key USDA Appointments announced

• USDA Announcement of key appointments, Press Release (Jan. 21, 2025)

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Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services

• Nomination (Jan. 20, 2025)

• Confirmation hearing (Jan. 29-30, 2025)

• Jan. 29 Confirmation hearing

• Jan. 30 Confirmation hearing

• Senate Committee Approval

• Confirmed, sworn into office (Feb. 13, 2025)

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FDA and Related HHS Appointments/Nominations Impacting Food

• Acting Commissioner of the FDA: Dr. Sara Brenner  

• Nomination for FDA Commissioner: Dr. Marty Makary

• Nomination for head of CDC: Dr. Dave Weldon - Nomination withdrawn, see Trump administration withdraws CDC director nomination just before Senate hearing, AP News (Mar. 13, 2025) (referencing concern regarding nominee's vaccine skepticism)

• ​Nomination for Surgeon General: Dr. Janette Nesheiwat (hearing pending)

• NPR Review of nominees: Trump Announces Three Medical Doctors As His Picks for FDA, CDC, and Surgeon General (Nov. 24, 2024)

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Withdrawal From International Organizations and Accords (with direct food system implications)

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• Executive Order withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, revoking the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan, and revoking or rescinding all policies implemented to advance the International Climate Finance Plan; Executive Order, Putting American First in International Environmetal Agreements, (Jan. 20, 2025)​

• Executive Order withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization, Executive Order, Withdrawing the United States From the World Health Organization (Jan. 20, 2025).

 

• See Just Security for litigation updates

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Executive and Administrative Orders with a Direct Impact on USDA / FDA

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USDA Dept of Communications Directs Removal of Climate Change from Gov't websites:  

• USDA ordered to scrub climate change from websites, Politico (Jan. 31, 2025)

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• Update, February 24, 2025: EarthJustice and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University (on behalf of farm groups) sued the USDA for removing all of its climate change-focused information and pages from the USDA website. The Complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, asking the court to restore access and to prevent further purging of the information from the website. See Farmers Sue Over Deletion of Climate Data From Government Websites, NY Times (Feb. 24, 2025)

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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility - All DEIA efforts at federal agencies were ordered to be terminated by multiple Executive Orders: 

• Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (Jan. 21, 2025) (revoking many prior executive orders encouraging diversity and prohibiting discrimination)

• Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service (Jan. 20, 2025)

• Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing (Jan. 20, 2025)

• ​Agencies received directives from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) requiring them to close DEI operations and terminate employees; See, OPM Guidance on Implementation

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• Judge temporarily blocks key parts of Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI, Wash. Post (Feb. 21, 2025)

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Actions Involving Career Government Employees

• Career federal employees under civil service protections have received a variety of orders and restrictions by direct email, and the executive order attempting to impose new provisions for their service and dismissal is: Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce (Jan. 20, 2025);  See also, Restoring Accountability for Career Senior Executives (Jan. 20, 2025)

• Hiring Freeze (Jan. 20, 2025)

• Return to In-Person Work (Jan. 20, 2025)

• Email purportedly offering buyout to employees who resign (Jan. 28, 2025):  What federal workers should know about Trump administration’s ‘deferred resignation’ offer, Wash. Post (Jan. 28, 2025)

• Injunction preventing the deadline for the buyout offer (Feb. 7, 2025), as reported by Reuters; 

• Injunction lifted Feb. 12, 2025 (Federal unions found to not have standing) Federal Judge Lets Trump 'Buyout' Proceed, CNN (Feb. 13, 2025)

• Provisional employees were fired on Feb. 13-14; Anecdotal reports of widespread layoffs throughout USDA, with specific confirmation of termination reported at 3 specific agencies: USDA probationary staff fired at three agencies, sources say, Reuters (Feb. 14, 2025) (Leah Douglas reporting)

• Additional terminations at USDA, threatening services: Thousands of USDA Employees Fired as Part of Federal Workforce Reduction, Northern Ag Network (Feb. 17, 2025)

• In response to a Merit Systems Protection Board stay on the firings at USDA, the following USDA press release was issued:

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WASHINGTON, March 11, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the following statement today regarding the status of probationary employees:

“On Wednesday, March 5, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) issued a 45-day stay on the termination of U.S. Department of Agriculture probationary employees. By Wednesday, March 12, the Department will place all terminated probationary employees in pay status and provide each with back pay, from the date of termination. The Department will work quickly to develop a phased plan for return-to-duty, and while those plans materialize, all probationary employees will be paid.”

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However, Politico Pro reported the following on March 14, 2025:

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"But according to 10 USDA employees — current and fired — the process of reinstating employees has been haphazard. As of Friday, most fired probationary employees are being told they are placed on administrative leave for the next 45 days and receiving back pay, after which many expect to be fired. Others said some of the previously fired probationary employees have not yet been contacted about the board decision or the recent court ruling. None of these fired probationary workers have fully returned to work yet. A USDA spokesperson did not return a request for comment." 

What court orders? Trump's moving full steam ahead to slash more federal workers, Politico Pro (Mar. 14, 2025)

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• Two separate federal district court judges have held that firings were illegal; see, A 2nd judge orders thousands of fired federal employees temporarily reinstated, NPR (Mar. 14, 2025); The administration has appealed both rulings

• See Just Security for litigation updates

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For the audio report about a fired USDA employee (a Presidential

Management Fellow), please list to this news segment:

It is a good illustration of the loss 

to our country.  

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Memorandum Ordering "Immediate Pause" on HHS Communications

• Memo From HHS Acting Secretary Dorothy Fink  (Jan. 21, 2025)

• News story on memo, Federal Health Agencies Told to Halt All External Communications, NPR (Jan. 22, 2025)

• News regarding H5N1 transmission involving cats and humans posted and then removed from CDC website, CDC Posts, Then Deletes, Data on Bird Flu Spread Between Cats and People, NY Times (Feb. 7, 2025)

• See Just Security for litigation updates ("On Feb. 11, 2025, Judge John D. Bates issued a temporary restraining order and memorandum opinion. The TRO includes a requirement that Defendants restore webpages and datasets identified by the Plaintiffs.")

• Allegations that this "pause" continues in effect except for a "small handful of communications approved on a case-by-case basis'" Letter to RFK Jr. from LeadingAge (Mar. 11, 2025)

 

Firing of the independent Inspectors General, including USDA IG Phyllis Fong and HHS IG Christi Grimm (by email Jan. 25, 2025)

• News story reporting on firing

• Letter objecting to the firings from the Council on Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (IGIE) including reference to the law requiring 30-days Congressional notice and specific reasons for each firing (Jan. 24, 2025; letter from Hannibal "Mike" Ware, CIGIE Chairperson) Note that the law referenced was amended in 2022

• USDA IG Phylls Fong reported to work but was escorted out of the building by USDA guards (Jan. 29, 2025)

• Litigation pending, see Just Security for litigation updates

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Memorandum Ordering Federal Agencies to Freeze "all federal financial assistance"

• Memo From Office of Management & Budget to Federal Agencies  (Jan. 27, 2025)

• Initial News story on memo, Trump Administration Orders Sweeping Freeze of All Federal Aid, Politico (Jan. 27, 2025)

• "Clairfying" memo from OMB

• Order granting temporary injunction, stopping the freeze (Jan. 28, 2023)

• Recission of OMB Memo (Jan. 29, 2025)

• White House statement that freeze is still in effect regardless of recission (White House response adds to confusion on federal funding freeze, NPR (Jan. 29, 2025)

• Litigation brought by Attorneys General pending, Link to Complaint; Judge issued an injunction, Second judge temporarily blocks federal funding freeze efforts by Trump administration, PBS (Jan. 31. 2025)

• Court chastises the administration for not complying with its order: Copy of court order; See, e.g., news coverage White House Failed to Comply With Court Order, Judge Rules, NY Times (Feb 10, 2025; updated Feb.12, 2025); see also US judge says Trump administration violated order lifting spending freeze, Reuters (Feb. 10, 2025). 

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• The National Farmers Union is collecting information from farmers who have contracts with the USDA that are not being honored or program benefits that have been frozen or denied. Please pass this collection website on to farmers and ranchers effected. Anonymous posting is an option. 

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• February 18, 2025 Update:  

  • There is considerable fear and uncertainty among farmers and rural communities as aid that they depend on is withheld, contracts are placed on hold for review, and markets are lost​. Trump administration actions up to this point have not been good for farmers or the farm economy. The following news segment explains: Farmers feeling weight of Trump policies with shutdown of aid, PBS NewsHour (Feb. 17, 2025).

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• ​February 20, 2025 Update:

  • USDA says it will release $20 million of frozen farmer funds, Reuters (Feb. 20, 2024). The USDA announced that it will release approximately $20 million in conservation contract funding.This funding relates to contracts previously entered into by farmers and the USDA. Withholding this funding was not permitted under a federal court order. The USDA announcement indicates that this is the "first tranche" of funding paused by the administration and that its review of other funding continues, despite the court order.

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• February 24, 2025 Update: 

  • Inside the USDA, Staffers Struggle with Trump’s Funding Freeze (One office in the Agriculture Department provides a window into how efforts to comply with Trump’s DEI order have halted some grant payments, even as judges have ordered the federal government to end its broad funding freeze.) Wash. Post (Feb. 24, 2025).

 

• March 6, 2025 Update:  

  • Second federal judge blocks spending freeze; see, A second federal judge has ruled to block the Trump administration's spending freeze, NPR (Mar. 6, 2025) (good explanation of litigation to that date)

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• March 10, 2025 Update:

  • Reports indicate that the USDA is reviewing all spending and allowing some contracts to move forward while delaying or cancelling other programs and contracts with farmers; There is confusion as to what is moving forward and what is not. Programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act are thought to be particularly vulnerable, as is assistance directed to under-served farmers and climate-related project

  • For an excellent article on the confusion and the direct impact, see Farmers put plans, investments on hold under Trump USDA spending freeze, Reuters (Mar. 10, 2025)

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• March 12, 2025 Update: Local Foods Contracts Canceled

  • The USDA announced that it was canceling $1 Billion in contracts under the Local Food for Schools Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement. Both programs funded the purchase of locally grown foods by communities, schools, and assistance organization. See, news reports: 

    • USDA cancels $1B in local food purchasing for schools, food banks, Politico (Mar. 10, 2025);  

    • USDA cancels $1 billion in funding for schools and food banks to buy food from local suppliers, CBS (Mar. 13, 2025); 

    • Farmers face steep losses in the middle of Trump's trade war and funding cuts, NBC News (Mar. 14, 2025).

  • March 14 Update:  Rep. Chelley Pingree, along with 82 member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Adam Schiff along with a a group of 32 U.S. Senators each sent letters to USDA criticizing the USDA decision to cancel local food contracts:  Pingree House Letter ; Schiff Senate letter

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• See Just Security for additional litigation updates.

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Executive Order 14154 "Unleashing American Energy"

• This order, issued January 20, 2025 directed agencies to “immediately pause the disbursement of funds appropriated through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) related to alternative or renewable energy and to pause and review all IRA funding
  related to alternative or renewable energy to assure that all funds spent are consistent with the new order.

• Pursuant to this order, IRA grants and contracts with farmers were halted as a funding freeze was implemented

• On March 13, 2025, a complaint was filed to challenge the funding freeze and demanding that the contracts be honored; See Butterbee Farm, et al v. USDA, Complaint brought through EarthJustice

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Immigration Policies Including Deportation

The Trump administration's aggressive actions to deport undocumented immigrants and refugees may have profound impacts on the food system. It is estimated that almost half of farmworkers are undocumented and, a significant percentage of food workers, from processing plants to restaurants are as well. It has been difficult to track who is being arrested and deported, but the following site provides tracking of policies and practices:

• Immigration Policy Tracking Project

• Tracking Notable Executive Branch Action during the Second Trump Administration, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

• See Just Security for litigation updates

 

​Efforts to Close USAID / Terminating Employees and Orders to Cease Work

• Executive Order "Reevaluating and Realigning U.S. Foreign Aid" (resulting in the decimation of the US AID agency and most of the assistance it provided)

• In addition to the important international relations and human rights work done by USAID, American agriculture is also involved. Commodities are purchased from U.S. farmers and delivered as food assistance to needy countries. This provides an important market for U.S. agriculture. The following news publications highlight this connection: 

  • Trump's USAID Plans Threaten Billions of Dollars For US Farms and Businesses, Wash Post (Feb. 6, 2025)

  • Shuttering of USAID could mean the end of millions in income for Midwest farm operations, Minnesota Star Tribune (Feb. 6, 2025)

  • Musk and Trump combine to shaft US farmers, North Denver Tribune (Feb. 6, 2025).

• A temporary injunction was issued with regard to the employees: Judge blocks Trump from placing thousands of USAID workers on leave and giving them 30-day deadline, AP News (Feb. 7, 2025)

• Oversight of USAID-Funded Humanitarian Assistance Programming Impacted by Staffing Reductions and Pause on Foreign Assistance, Report of the Inspector General (Advisory Notice) (Feb. 10, 2025); IG Martin was fired the following day: See, e.g., Trump fires USAID Inspector General One Day After Blistering Report, Wash Post (Feb. 11, 2025)

• Litigation pending -  a federal judge in D.C. ordered the administration to honor US AID contracts for work already completed; the Supreme Court turned down a request to lift the order (see SCOTUS Blog, Supreme Court denies Trump request to block $2 billion foreign-aid payment (Mar. 5, 2025)

• See Just Security for litigation updates

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"Make America Healthy Again"

• Executive Order establishing MAHA Commission; Executive Order, Establishing the President's Make America Healthy Again Commission (Feb. 13, 2025) (for more information, view the order and the Chapter XI, Food and Agriculture Update.

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• ​Pushback Over Cutting Local Food Grants: How Does Cutting Local Food Programs Help Make America Healthy Again?  Editorial by Chris Clayton, Progressive Farmer (Mar. 17, 2025)

 

 

Tariffs and Retaliation Impacting Food and Agriculture

• Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imports from Canada, Mexico and China (Feb. 1, 2025)

• Tariff delayed 30 days: Trump pauses tariffs on Mexico and Canada, but not China, Reuters (Feb. 3, 2025); China responded with countermeasures including tariff on ag machinery

• On March 4, 2025:  U.S. tariffs against Canada and Mexico went into effect; Canada and China imposed retaliatory measures - including China's tariff on US farm goods

• March 6, 2025:  U.S. tariffs on many products from Mexico and Canada are postponed until April 2; some Canadian tariffs suspended

• March 10, 2025: China imposes an additional 15% tariff on specific U.S. farm products, including chicken, pork, soybeans and beef.

• March 12, 2025: In reaction to significant tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, the EU takes retaliatory measures with tariffs on specified U.S. goods including some agricultural products (bourbon and peanut butter impacted);

• For a very helpful trade war timeline, see Trump has begun another trade war. Here’s a timeline of how we got here, AP (Mar. 13, 2025)

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Numerous news outlets are reporting on concerns about the impact of the Trump trade wars on farmers and the agricultural economy:  See, e.g., the following news reports: 

North Dakota went big for Trump. Now many farmers say they face an uncertain future, NPR (Mar. 14, 2025);  

Farmers strongly back Trump. A new trade war could test their loyalty, NPR (Mar. 7, 2025); 

Farmers face steep losses in the middle of Trump's trade war and funding cuts, NBC News (Mar. 14, 2025).

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