Trump Administration’s Farm Aid Plans Delayed By Shutdown

The Trump administration has pushed back its plans to roll out economic aid for farmers this week due to the government shutdown, according to four people familiar with the talks.

The Office of Management and Budget has readied between $12 billion and $13 billion to be allocated from an internal USDA account, some of which could be used to fund the bailouts for farmers hurt by President Donald Trump’s tariffs and other economic headwinds, according to the four people with knowledge of the decision, all granted anonymity to share private details.

No final decision has been made on just how much of the money will go toward farm aid, the people said, and the package won’t be coming out any time soon. The timeline has been further delayed because some USDA political appointees have been furloughed during the shutdown.

Officials have been weighing using tariff revenue, USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation fund and other alternative methods to alleviate farmers’ financial stress. There’s precedent: Trump tapped USDA’s internal fund to dole out $28 billion worth of bailouts during his first-term trade war with China.

The administration was expected to announce some form of support for farmers Tuesday, as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously teased, but that was put on pause due to ongoing shutdown negotiations. Still, some of the people familiar expect that Trump could go rogue and announce next steps on bailouts this week.

“I'm going to do some farm stuff this week,” Trump said at the White House on Monday.

OMB and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.

“President Trump has made it clear he will not leave farmers behind, so USDA will continue to assess the farm economy and explore the need for further assistance, however, there is nothing new to share at this time,” said USDA spokesperson Alec Varsamis in a statement.

Lawmakers and their staff haven’t been briefed on the farm aid plans by USDA, according to one of the four people and two different people with direct knowledge of the situation, leaving them in the dark about when constituents can expect financial help from the federal government.

Any plans to use tariff revenue or refill USDA’s internal fund, which has seen its borrowing capability severely depleted over the years, would require congressional approval and likely kick off a partisan fight during already dire spending conversations.

Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said in an interview that Trump, Bessent and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins have “all made … clear” that they’re pursuing farm aid despite the delay the shutdown has caused.

“It won't be just a one-shot deal,” he added, noting that Republicans are considering passing legislation that would allow more latitude for the use of tariff revenue under USDA’s Section 32.

“We’re all waiting on the president to say exactly what and how much and where [for farm aid],” said Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.).

Rachel Shin and Marcia Brown contributed to this report.