The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has unveiled a new disaster assistance initiative to aid farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across the country affected by recent natural disasters. Announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, the $340.6 million relief package is part of the USDA Disaster Assistance Fund, aiming to provide immediate support to areas that have experienced devastation.
The initiative follows an executive order by President Trump, which expedited assistance for communities that faced delays under the previous administration. "My heart goes out to the families across our great country who have lost loved ones, homes, businesses and livelihoods," Secretary Rollins stated. The Secretary emphasized, "As one of his first executive actions, President Trump made it a top priority for his administration to deliver fast and fair relief to communities impacted by disasters."
The announcement was made in North Dakota, where $5 million from the fund will be allocated to restore electric infrastructure damaged by severe storms and wildfires. Additional funds will be distributed to other states, with $25 million set aside for North Carolina and $18 million for Tennessee to address damages from hurricanes like Fiona, Ian, Idalia, and Helene since 2022.
The funding will also allocate $5.8 million to facilitate economic development, $15.6 million for rebuilding infrastructure, $20 million to ensure safe water supply and restore electric infrastructure, and $2 million for technical aid to towns in need.
The Trump Administration emphasized streamlining the fund's management, which includes reducing bureaucratic delays, ensuring responsible fund handling, and responding promptly to previous assistance requests. "Ensuring funds are more responsibly and effectively managed than ever before," was a point highlighted in their efforts to improve the fund's operations.
The USDA Disaster Assistance Fund specifically aims to help rural families, farmers, and small businesses by providing resources to repair homes, businesses, and essential services. The move demonstrates the current administration's focus on supporting rural communities during crises, reaffirming the commitment that "no community is left behind following natural disasters."
Secretary Rollins affirmed, "USDA is fulfilling the President’s promise today and ensuring we are doing everything we can to support state and local efforts to rebuild these communities to be even stronger than before."
