USDA Cuts $148 Million in DEI Funding

Secretary Rollins Eliminates Millions in Diversity-focused Awards to Prioritize Farmers

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke L. Rollins, has announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will terminate more than 145 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) focused awards, resulting in savings of up to $148.6 million.

The decision marks a shift towards prioritizing American farmers over what Secretary Rollins called "woke DEI propaganda."

Secretary Rollins emphasized, "Putting American Farmers First means cutting the millions of dollars that are being wasted on woke DEI propaganda.

Under President leadership, I am putting an end to the waste, fraud, and abuse that has diverted resources from American farmers and restoring sanity and fiscal stewardship to the U.S. Department of Agriculture."

The following programs will be affected by the cuts -

• A program focused on educating socially disadvantaged farmers on conservation practices, amounting to $575,251.

• A project designed to create new urban forestry models aimed at environmental justice, with a cost of $192,246.

• An initiative aimed at expanding equitable access to land, capital, and market opportunities for underserved Bay Area producers, totaling $2.5 million.

These programs, previously funded under the USDA’s diversity and inclusion efforts, will now be redirected to better serve the agricultural community and ensure that resources are effectively utilized.

This bold move underscores the USDA’s commitment to supporting the needs of American farmers, focusing on efficiency and reducing waste.