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GAO Criticizes USDA for Lack of Transparency in Reorganization Plans

GAO Criticizes USDA for Lack of Transparency in Reorganization Plans

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has raised concerns regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) reorganization plans, citing a significant lack of transparency. According to a report published by the GAO, the USDA failed to provide documentation detailing the analyses that informed its reorganization decisions. This omission prevents Congress and the public from evaluating the potential impacts of the reorganization on services, economic factors, workforce attrition, and the protection of taxpayer dollars. Steve Morris, GAO’s director of natural resources and environment, stated that despite multiple requests, the USDA did not furnish the necessary information, leaving stakeholders in the dark. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins criticized the GAO's report as a 'politicized review,' arguing it did not present the full story of the department's reorganization. However, the GAO has affirmed the objectivity and accuracy of its findings. This lack of transparency follows a similar p...

USDA Considers Easing Import Requirements for Mexican Figs Following Pest Risk Assessment

USDA Considers Easing Import Requirements for Mexican Figs Following Pest Risk Assessment

USDA Considers Easing Import Requirements for Mexican Figs Following Pest Risk Assessment

USDA to Hire Hundreds for New Sterile Fly Production Facility in Texas to Combat Screwworm

USDA to Hire Hundreds for New Sterile Fly Production Facility in Texas to Combat Screwworm

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to hire 228 individuals for the New World Screwworm (NWS) Sterile Fly Production Facility in Edinburg, Texas, with hiring commencing this month. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that these positions will span various roles, including scientific, technical, skilled trades, safety, administrative support, and information technology. The new facility at Moore Air Base will be the first U.S.-based sterile fly production facility. It is projected to produce 100 million sterile flies per week once initially operational in 2027, with a full capacity of approximately 300 million flies per week. The USDA will host a hiring event from November 17-19 in McAllen, Texas, where hiring managers will conduct interviews.

Project 2027 Proposes Unified Agenda for U.S. Food Safety Improvements

Project 2027 Proposes Unified Agenda for U.S. Food Safety Improvements

A working paper titled 'Project 2027' has been circulated among over a hundred U.S. organizations, including victim and consumer groups, public health and nutrition organizations, labor, environmental groups, state regulators, academics, former agency officials, and food industry insiders. Initiated in early September, the paper outlines 35 specific actions aimed at enhancing American food safety within a year, utilizing existing agencies and personnel. The project's tagline is 'Known Problems, Known Solutions.' The initiative seeks to identify common ground among diverse stakeholders on food safety issues. A grid developed by the project's author demonstrates that 13 of the 30 proposals already have support from multiple, often disparate, organizations. These areas of agreement include establishing a usable definition of ultra-processed food, ensuring safer food for infants through pathogen testing and limits on heavy metals, and addressing long-standing issues like treating Salmonella in poultry as an ad...

Bipartisan SILVER Act Gains Momentum in Congress to Address Precious Metals Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Bipartisan SILVER Act Gains Momentum in Congress to Address Precious Metals Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Bipartisan SILVER Act Gains Momentum in Congress to Address Precious Metals Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Democrats are preparing to probe the Trump family's finances

Democrats are preparing to probe the Trump family's finances

Oversight committees are already naming investigative targets, including Trump, his sons and his son-in-law.

USDA Proposes New Grazing Rule to Expand Rancher Access on Federal Lands

USDA Proposes New Grazing Rule to Expand Rancher Access on Federal Lands

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed significant changes to federal grazing rules, aiming to simplify and expand rancher access to grazing permits on national forests and grasslands across 16 Western states. The proposed rule seeks to update requirements for permit issuance, eligibility, and qualifications, while also revising grazing fee provisions to establish more consistent fee-setting practices between the USDA and the Interior Department. This initiative is designed to reduce regulatory discrepancies for ranchers who utilize lands managed by both agencies. Currently, the Forest Service permits livestock grazing on nearly 40% of its 193 million acres, an activity that supports approximately 14,200 jobs and contributes $645 million annually to the U.S. gross domestic product. The USDA emphasizes that grazing is also a vital land-management tool, contributing to the reduction of dry vegetation, wildfire prevention efforts, and improved stewardship during periods of drought and other en...

Senator Mike Lee Introduces Guard the Skies Act to Authorize National Guard in Counter-Drone Operations

Senator Mike Lee Introduces Guard the Skies Act to Authorize National Guard in Counter-Drone Operations

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced the Guard the Skies Act, legislation aimed at authorizing National Guard units to counter threats from unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly known as drones. This bill would allow the National Guard to operate under the direction and control of state governors to jam, intercept, or down drone threats. A companion bill has been introduced in the House by Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX). The current federal framework limits the National Guard's authority in this area, creating a gap in security capabilities. The proposed legislation seeks to address this by empowering local authorities with federal support to manage complex airspace threats, particularly around major events and critical infrastructure. The bill builds upon the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act's Safer Skies Act, which previously devolved some counter-UAS authority to state and local law enforcement.

USDA Reports Sharp Increase in New World Screwworm Infestations Across Southwest States

USDA Reports Sharp Increase in New World Screwworm Infestations Across Southwest States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reported a significant surge in confirmed New World screwworm infestations across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, with cases climbing to 128 since June. Federal agricultural data indicates a tenfold increase in detections during October alone, with 33 domestic cases reported in October and an additional 42 cases in the first 11 days of November. The majority of these 128 cases involve domestic livestock and pets, with two wild elk also affected in West Texas. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing severe damage and potentially death if untreated. In response, state and federal officials have implemented movement restrictions, inspection checkpoints, and quarantine protocols in affected zones, which now include 21 Texas counties and portions of New Mexico and Arizona.

USDA and Interior Department Announce Proposed Rule to Update Public Lands Grazing Regulations

USDA and Interior Department Announce Proposed Rule to Update Public Lands Grazing Regulations

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced a proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to update public lands grazing permit issuance, eligibility, qualifications, and revise grazing fee provisions. This rule will be published in the Federal Register, initiating a 30-day comment period. The objective of this proposed rule is to align public grazing regulations across two agencies and four congressional acts that impact ranchers. The Forest Service, an agency within the USDA, and the Interior Department are the primary agencies involved in managing these public lands. This collaborative effort aims to streamline and modernize the regulatory framework governing grazing activities on federal lands, addressing long-standing issues and feedback from the ranching community.

Oregon Dairy Herd Confirms First Case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in State

Oregon Dairy Herd Confirms First Case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in State

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 clade 2.3.4.4b has been confirmed in a dairy cattle herd in Oregon, marking the state's first reported case in cattle. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the virus through PCR detection, with genetic sequencing results pending. This detection occurred during Oregon's routine surveillance for HPAI in dairy cattle, where the herd had previously tested negative under the National Milk Testing Strategy. Since March 2024, dairy cattle in 22 states have been infected, with APHIS noting new cases in previously unaffected states this year. APHIS is collaborating with the Oregon Department of Agriculture to conduct further on-farm investigations, diagnostic testing, and epidemiological data collection to understand the detection better and prevent further spread. The USDA's HPAI eradication strategy remains unchanged, emphasizing biosecurity measures for all dairy farms.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum Propose New Federal Grazing Rule

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum Propose New Federal Grazing Rule

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum have announced a proposed rule aimed at updating grazing permit issuance, eligibility, qualifications, and revising grazing fee provisions for ranchers. This rule applies to those who graze livestock on national forests and grasslands across 16 contiguous Western states. The proposed rule, which began its 30-day public comment period, seeks to provide a more seamless practice for America’s ranchers and benefit rural communities by supporting both small and large ranching operations, potentially creating more local jobs. Secretary Rollins emphasized the administration's focus on cutting red tape to allow ranchers to continue their legacy of feeding America and maintaining healthy rangelands. The Forest Service currently permits livestock grazing on nearly 40 percent of its 193 million managed acres.