Shutdown Stalls Farm Aid as Economic Impacts Deepen
The federal government shutdown has entered its third week, halting farm loans, delaying key market reports, and freezing emergency aid programs as agencies continue operating without funding.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed that the USDA’s new support package for producers, funded through a $13 billion transfer from the Commodity Credit Corporation, will not move forward until normal operations resume. Rollins said that once the government reopens, the department will move ahead with a significant aid effort for farmers facing weak commodity prices and trade uncertainty. She also emphasized that the administration’s broader goal is to strengthen markets rather than depend on recurring payments.
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The political implications of the shutdown are growing as both parties use rural communities to underscore their broader economic messages. Democrats have criticized the administration’s handling of farm aid and trade policy, while Republicans argue that the government must be restructured to cut waste and modernize programs.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed that the USDA’s new support package for producers, funded through a $13 billion transfer from the Commodity Credit Corporation, will not move forward until normal operations resume. Rollins said that once the government reopens, the department will move ahead with a significant aid effort for farmers facing weak commodity prices and trade uncertainty. She also emphasized that the administration’s broader goal is to strengthen markets rather than depend on recurring payments.
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The political implications of the shutdown are growing as both parties use rural communities to underscore their broader economic messages. Democrats have criticized the administration’s handling of farm aid and trade policy, while Republicans argue that the government must be restructured to cut waste and modernize programs.