The House Appropriations Committee has released the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill. The bill will be reviewed in a subcommittee session scheduled for June 5 at 10:30 a.m., which will be live-streamed on the Committee's website.
Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris stated, "The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill reflects a clear, conservative commitment to fiscal responsibility while ensuring that America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities remain a top priority." He added that the legislation aims to reduce wasteful spending from previous administrations while supporting American-grown food.
Chairman Tom Cole commented on the importance of agriculture to future prosperity: "This FY26 bill delivers targeted investments to protect U.S. agriculture and family farms... Just as our producers responsibly tend to the land, Chairman Harris has stewarded this legislation to protect core duties while upholding fiscal responsibility."
The bill allocates $25.523 billion in discretionary funding for FY26—$1.163 billion less than the previous year—and focuses on agencies that protect food and drug supplies and support rural communities. It emphasizes agricultural research, rural broadband expansion, and nutrition programs for low-income Americans.
Key elements include continued investment in agriculture research and safety inspections for food and drugs. It also supports regulatory changes affecting poultry and livestock production introduced during prior administrations.
The bill aligns with initiatives supported by the Trump Administration by allocating $6.8 billion for FDA activities aimed at maintaining safe food supplies. Other allocations include $1.15 billion for protecting agriculture from pests through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Security measures are addressed by improving tracking of foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land and increasing transparency in USDA research collaborations with certain foreign governments.
Efforts are made to safeguard taxpayer dollars by reducing unnecessary expenses such as staffing reductions where possible and eliminating funds related to climate hubs or urban agriculture offices.
Further details about the bill can be accessed online through available summaries or full text documents provided by the committee.
