USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins under fire for SNAP fraud busts and food aid policy amid Trump-era reforms. Born 1972, American attorney and official.
The USDA terminated nearly $9 million in grants to Native and underserved farmers, citing concerns over DEI and wasteful spending. The move affects projects in Montana and other states, prompting criticism from awardees who say the reasons are unfounded and harmful to economic progress.
SNAP participation has declined by about 4.3 million from January 2025 to January 2026. Advocates attribute the drop to tougher eligibility rules and work requirements in the One Big Beautiful Bill, while supporters claim a stronger economy and reduced fraud are responsible. The administration is moving toward tighter controls and reduced federal funding over the next decade, with state programs bearing more cost.
Vice President JD Vance is on a high-profile tour in Iowa, linking economic messaging with support for Republican candidates. The trip follows a string of public missteps and signals potential presidential ambitions, while party dynamics and polling underline a tense path toward 2028.
Drought and heat have deepened losses for U.S. wheat farmers as irrigation and drought conditions worsen. Growers report sharply lower yields and higher input costs, with USDA data forecasting a historically small crop and insurance considerations shaping farmer decisions.
The UN World Food Programme has intensified emergency food and nutrition aid as hunger risks rise amid conflict, climate shocks, and funding shortfalls across multiple regions, including Sudan and South Sudan. Delivery faces security and transport hurdles with the rainy season approaching.
Public lands policy moves under renewed scrutiny as the administration signals potential changes to long-standing access rules, with Senators and regulators weighing the impacts on conservation, recreation and energy development.
The New World screwworm re-emerged in Texas after decades of eradication, with a calf found in La Pryor marking the first U.S. cattle case since the 1960s. Authorities are deploying sterile flies, expanding production, and tightening cross-border controls as Canada imposes imports limits and additional cases emerge in Texas.