Maine Independent Senator Angus King is joining a group of Senate Democrats on a bill calling for the release of already granted federal agricultural funding being blocked by the Trump administration.
The measure, known as the Honor Farmer Contracts Act, would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to unfreeze all signed agreements and contracts and make all past-due payments to farmers as quickly as possible.
The Trump administration is withholding the funding made under former President Biden, saying it’s necessary to cut wasteful spending and eliminate climate change and diversity programs it opposes.
The money is part of $38 billion over 10 years allocated to the USDA in the Inflation Reduction Act. In February, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “USDA continues to review IRA funding to ensure that programs are focused on supporting farmers and ranchers, not DEIA programs or far left climate programs.”
Maine farmers are currently waiting for the USDA to release about $12 million in conservation grants.
“Farmers are an original building block of our state economy, providing jobs and a secure food source for thousands of people in Maine and across the northeast,” said Senator King. “The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would ensure that Maine’s farmers receive the federal funding from all signed agreements and contracts as quickly as possible to prevent any operations from having to shut down.
According to a release from Senator King, the Honor Farmer Contracts Act would:
- Require USDA to unfreeze all signed agreements and contracts;
- Require USDA to make all past due payments as quickly as possible;
- Prohibit USDA from cancelling agreements or contracts with farmers or organizations providing assistance to farmers unless there has been a failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement or contract.
- Prohibit USDA from closing any Farm Service Agency county office, Natural Resources Conservation Service field office or Rural Development Service Center without providing 60 days prior notice and justification to Congress.
King is one of 13 co-sponsors of the bill introduced Monday by Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey.
