en.Wedoany.com Reported - The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has proposed a bill that would cut the budget of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Under the bill, the USDA's discretionary spending would be reduced by $380 million, a 1.4% decline from the current budget. This reduction is smaller than the budget cuts previously sought by the administration. The total discretionary budget in the bill is set at $26.27 billion, higher than the administration's proposed $20.7 billion, but 19% below the enacted budget level.
The bill prioritizes protecting food and drug supplies, supporting farmers and rural communities, and ensuring low-income individuals can access nutrition programs. In a press release, the House Appropriations Committee stated: "The bill prioritizes agencies and programs that protect the nation's food and drug supply; support America's farmers, ranchers, and rural communities; and ensure low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs." "This legislation is fiscally responsible, refocuses programs on their core missions, while prioritizing the health, safety, and prosperity of American producers and consumers."
The bill proposes cutting the Farm Service Agency's salaries and expenses account to $1.1 billion, a decrease of $19.1 million from the fiscal year 2026 level. However, the bill specifically sets aside $15 million for hiring staff to fill agricultural loan officer positions in county offices. The bill also continues to prohibit the closure of county offices and restricts employee transfers. In comparison, President Trump's budget request proposed cutting the Farm Service Agency's salaries and expenses by $172 million.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service's conservation operations account is allocated $800 million, a decrease of $50 million from the fiscal year 2026 level, but far less than the $739 million cut proposed in President Trump's budget request. Funding for the conservation operations account has been on a downward trend in recent years, from approximately $895.75 million in fiscal year 2025 to about $850 million last year.
The bill cuts food aid funding for the "Food for Peace" program to $900 million. The program was temporarily moved to the USDA late last year, after receiving $2 billion in fiscal year 2025 and $1.2 billion last year. The House farm bill, which may be submitted for consideration as early as next week, includes a provision to permanently transfer the "Food for Peace" program from the State Department to the USDA. Funding for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education program remains at $240 million. The budget proposal released by the president earlier this month proposed eliminating both aid programs.
Other departmental budget adjustments include: The Agricultural Research Service receives nearly $1.8 billion, about a 7% reduction from the current budget; The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service budget stands at $1.16 billion, roughly flat compared to the current fiscal year; The National Institute of Food and Agriculture receives $1.046 billion; The Economic Research Service remains stable at about $91 million; Rural Development is cut from $312 million to $270 million; The Rural Business-Cooperative Service budget is reduced from $82 million to $63.6 million; The Office of the Chief Economist receives $29.5 million; The Office of the Secretary receives $55.2 million, including $500,000 allocated to the newly established Seafood Office.
The bill also includes other provisions: Retaining the Agriculture Secretary as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on a case-by-case basis, and requiring the Secretary to report agricultural land transactions that may pose a risk, involving transactions with China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran; The Food and Drug Administration receives $7.1 billion, roughly the same as the current fiscal year; Retaining "Buy American" provisions; Preventing discrimination against Americans based on "traditional marriage beliefs" in the use of funding.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
