Trump administration to Black farmers: No relief for bias

ISTOCK

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has canceled requirements for the use of discriminatory racial and gender preferences in federal initiatives as part of the rollback of so-called diversity equity and inclusion programs.

Federal programs for farmers impacted by discrimination are no more.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on July 10 published a rule removing requirements for the use of discriminatory racial and gender preferences in federal programs when they aren’t required by Congress. President Donald Trump accused his predecessor Joe Biden of weaponizing USDA to “willfully discriminate on the basis of race and gender” according to a media release. 

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins directed USDA to review Inflation Reduction Act funding and rescind so-called diversity equity and inclusion programs. 

“We are taking this aggressive, unprecedented action to eliminate discrimination in any form at USDA,” Rollins said in a statement. “It is simply wrong and contrary to the fundamental principle that all persons should be treated equally. President Trump has directed the cabinet to scrutinize all programs for illegal and unfair discrimination, and as long as I am Secretary of Agriculture, when we find leftover Biden discrimination in our programs, we will hold those persons who have committed these insidious acts accountable and take swift action to correct these illegal actions.” 

U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, a Charlotte Democrat and senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, criticized the rollbacks.

“I was appalled and disappointed to learn that the USDA is no longer taking remediation steps for race- and sex-based discrimination in farm lending, conservation grants, loans, and other programs,” she said in a statement.

“According to the Trump Administration, the ‘socially disadvantaged’ designation is no longer needed since past discrimination has been ‘sufficiently addressed.’ Who is the administration trying to fool? And where’s the data?"

According to the 2017 Agriculture Census conducted by USDA, North Carolina has less than 1,500 Black farmers, which account for 3% of the state’s 46,000 agricultural producers. A little more than a third of them – estimated at 530 – are women. 

Black people once owned as much as 25% of North Carolina’s farms in the 20th century.

While USDA contends it has addressed past discrimination, federal data shows socially disadvantaged agriculture producers:

• On average have fewer financial resources than their white male peers, making land purchases more difficult.

• Earn significantly less in median household income than non-SDA farmers at approximately $60,000 compared $75,000.

• Are more likely to operate smaller farms and face greater financial challenges compared to white farmers.

Black farmers in 2024 began receiving payments from the $2.2 billion Discrimination Financial Assistance Program. Two years earlier, Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act Section 22007 that authorized compensation for farmers who faced racial discrimination in USDA’s farm lending practices before 2021. 

An estimated 43,000 farmers received payments of up to $500,000, with the average award $82,000.

In 2022, the National Black Farmers Association filed a class action lawsuit charging Black farmers lost approximately $326 billion of land due to discrimination during the 20th century. USDA has previously acknowledged its role by rejecting loan applications at higher rates than white farmers.

Previous settlements between USDA and Black farmers, include a $1 billion payout in 1999 and a $1.25 billion settlement in 2013. Similar agreements have been struck between the government and Hispanic and women farmers ($1.3 billion), Native Americans ($800 million), and the Cobell case settlement ($3.4 billion).

“Exclusion of these populations from USDA programs is blatantly sexist and racist,” Adams said. “Women make up half the population so excluding half the population and all communities of color who are hard-working taxpayers from USDA programs is outrageous, unfair, and wrong. This is a perverse, deliberate, and intentional effort to undermine the protections of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and turn the clock backwards on progress made. 

“The USDA has been found to have consistently discriminated against both its employees of the department and the farmers, ranchers, and stakeholders who seek legally protected access to the benefits Congress has authorized and approved. It is shameful.”

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