The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a statement addressing the issue of disaster aid for farmers, accusing Congressional Democrats of politicizing the matter. Seth W. Christensen, Director of Communications at USDA, criticized Democrats for allegedly withholding crucial funding from farmers to create controversy and shift blame onto the Trump Administration.
Christensen stated, "Congressional Democrats are playing politics with disaster aid, withholding critical funding from farmers to manufacture controversy and blame the Trump Administration—when in reality, they’re pushing to misuse taxpayer dollars."
According to Christensen, Secretary Rollins is committed to delivering relief efficiently and responsibly. The USDA has been holding weekly meetings with eligible states, providing flexible options and clear guidance to prevent duplication of existing federal programs.
However, some states led by partisan officials have reportedly refused to engage in these efforts. Christensen remarked that these states are not only denying aid to their own farmers but also delaying relief for producers nationwide.
Despite these challenges, Secretary Rollins is determined to provide necessary support to farmers. The USDA announced on May 7th plans to expedite $21 billion in disaster assistance. Payments for livestock relief began last week, ahead of schedule by two days.
This contrasts with the Biden Administration's USDA under Secretary Vilsack’s leadership, where disaster relief programs took significantly longer—averaging 13 months and sometimes up to 19 months—to release funds needed by farmers.
