U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced the release of the first tranche of funding that was previously paused due to a review under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The announcement, made in Washington, D.C., indicates that approximately $20 million will be allocated to existing contracts within the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
Secretary Rollins stated, "American farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our nation. They feed, fuel, and clothe our nation—and millions of people around the world." She further criticized past policies by saying, "The past four years have been among the most difficult for American Agriculture, due in no small measure to Biden’s disastrous policies of over-regulation, extreme environmental programs, and crippling inflation."
Rollins highlighted issues with previous IRA funding allocations: "Unfortunately, the Biden administration rushed out hundreds of millions of dollars of IRA funding that was supposed to be distributed over eight years. After careful review, it is clear that some of this funding went to programs that had nothing to do with agriculture—that is why we are still reviewing—whereas other funding was directed to farmers and ranchers who have since made investments in these programs."
The USDA's current actions are part of an ongoing review process aimed at ensuring funds support agricultural activities rather than other initiatives such as DEIA or climate-related programs. Additional announcements regarding further tranches are expected as this review continues.
