House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer said on Apr. 21 that the increasing use of legal actions and regulations is putting American farmers and ranchers at risk. Comer made these remarks during the committee’s roundtable titled “Farming on Trial: A Roundtable on the Growing Use of Lawfare Against American Agriculture.”
Comer said that recent state and federal policies have created challenges for agricultural producers, threatening their livelihoods through what he described as overburdensome regulations, costly litigation, and criminal prosecution. He argued that this approach has resulted in an erosion of due process, private land rights, and economic viability for family farms.
In his opening statement, Comer highlighted individual cases to illustrate his concerns. He referenced Charles and Heather Maude of South Dakota, who faced federal property theft charges after a dispute with the U.S. Forest Service regarding fencing on their farm. "The charges against Heather and Charles were dropped, sensibly, by the Trump Administration in 2025," Comer said.
Comer also discussed Wade and Teresa King from Washington State who received administrative orders claiming they violated water pollution laws because of man-made stock ponds—a practice protected under state law—resulting in significant penalties. "No farm family should be punished for a practice protected by state law," he said.
He stated that Secretary Rollins had introduced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework earlier this year to address these issues through four main tenets: protecting producers, preserving land and liberty, purging burdensome regulations, and being a strong partner for agriculture’s future.
The roundtable featured guests including Marty Jackley (Attorney General for South Dakota), Shad Sullivan (Private Property Rights Committee Chair for R-CALF USA), and Margaret Byfield (Executive Director of American Stewards of Liberty). Comer concluded by saying the committee would continue working with whistleblowers to bring justice to those affected by agricultural lawfare while seeking policy reforms.
