WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture rolled out a sweeping set of initiatives last week, ranging from wildfire prevention funding to reforms in federal food assistance and new aid for farmers grappling with soaring costs.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced $200 million for 58 projects under the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program, aimed at helping communities reduce wildfire risks. The projects cover 22 states and two tribes, supporting efforts to clear hazardous vegetation and update community wildfire protection plans.
“These grants are about putting real resources directly in the hands of the people who know their lands and communities best,” Rollins said. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz emphasized that collaboration is key, adding, “No single organization can address the severe wildfire threats we face today.”
In nutrition policy, USDA proposed stricter requirements for retailers in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The rule would more than double stocking requirements to seven varieties in each staple category — dairy, protein, grains, and fruits and vegetables — while closing loopholes that let snack foods qualify as staples. Rollins said the reforms will both curb fraud and expand healthy choices, declaring, “Retailers participating in SNAP need to sell real food, plain and simple.”
The department also introduced a new senior advisor. Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., former Housing and Urban Development secretary, was sworn in as National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing. He will guide USDA policy on rural health, nutrition, and housing, with a focus on reducing chronic disease and supporting rural communities. “Through common-sense policymaking, we have an opportunity to give our most vulnerable families the tools they need to flourish,” Carson said.
On the farm economy, Rollins addressed the Agriculture Outlook Forum in Kansas City, citing steep increases in production costs since 2020: seed up 18 percent, fuel 32 percent, fertilizer 37 percent, and interest expenses 73 percent. To ease pressure, USDA and the Department of Justice signed a memorandum of understanding to scrutinize competition in agricultural markets, including antitrust enforcement.
Rollins also announced billions in aid to producers. More than $8 billion in Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) payments have already gone out, with another $2 billion released last week. USDA committed $480 million to purchase U.S.-grown commodities for international food assistance, supporting programs in countries from Honduras to Pakistan.
“President Trump has made it clear: America’s farmers and ranchers will never be left behind,” Rollins said. “Relief is already reaching farms and ranches, but more help is still needed.”
The week’s actions reflect USDA’s dual priorities: bolstering rural communities against economic and environmental challenges while tightening oversight of food programs to ensure nutrition and integrity.
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