Farmers on TikTok Speak Out About Trump's USDA Funding Freeze

President Donald Trump froze several key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding programs upon taking office, and a couple farmers have taken to TikTok to express their anger about being left with financial uncertainty.

Trump's USDA Funding Freeze

The decision to freeze USDA funding has raised concerns among farmers and policymakers. While the Trump administration has framed the freeze as part of a broader effort to reassess government spending, critics argue that it disproportionately harms farmers and rural economies by affecting funds for conservation initiatives, research grants and assistance for small agricultural businesses.

The USDA has yet to clarify whether the halted funds will be reinstated or if the freeze will be permanent.

Why It Matters

The USDA funding freeze is hitting farmers at a time when agricultural incomes have already been suppressed by low crop prices. Programs aimed at conservation, rural economic development and small farm grants have been halted as the administration conducts a review of 409 USDA programs. Some of these programs were supported by funding from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which earmarked $19.5 billion for agricultural sustainability initiatives.

According to a Reuters report, farmers who signed contracts with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have been informed that their payments are now on hold.

Missouri cattle producer Skylar Holden, who had a $240,000 contract for water lines, fencing and a well, said in a series of TikTok videos: "I've already done a bunch of the work, already paid for the material and the labor, so I'm out all that cost. We are possibly going to lose our farm if NRCS doesn't hold up their contract with us."

Is Trump Tied to Project 2025?

"A lot of rural people, over 70 percent of rural farmers and ranchers, only believe the Fox News and the talk radio," said Will Westmoreland, a southwest Missouri farmer and political consultant, in a video on TikTok. "And when they came to you and told you that Trump wasn't going to implement Project 2025, and that he didn't have anything to do with it, you believe that, and you're not alone."

Multiple other TikTok accounts have posted clips that discuss an alleged link between the USDA freeze and Project 2025.

Project 2025, a policy blueprint promoted by conservative think tanks, has been speculated as a driving force behind the funding freeze. The initiative aims to reshape federal agencies by limiting regulatory oversight and restructuring funding mechanisms.

According to the policy guide book Mandate for Leadership 2025: The Conservative Promise, the initiative argues that the USDA should scale back regulatory interventions and focus on removing barriers to agricultural production. The book criticizes policies that prioritize climate change and equity, advocating instead for a USDA that prioritizes efficiency, free-market principles and reducing environmental regulations that could hinder farm productivity.

While the Trump administration has not officially linked the USDA funding freeze to Project 2025, some critic of the president believe the move aligns with broader conservative policy goals of reducing government intervention in agriculture.

Trump himself publicly disavowed Project 2025 during his presidential campaign and indicated he had little direct knowledge of it.

"I have nothing to do with Project 2025," Trump said during a debate against then-Vice President Kamala Harris in September. "I haven't read it. I don't want to read it, purposely. I'm not going to read it."

What To Know

The USDA freeze has reportedly resulted in immediate economic consequences for farmers. Some affected programs include:

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which helps farmers implement conservation practices
• Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, which funds projects to reduce the environmental impact of farming
• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which provides grants for agricultural entrepreneurs

Congressional Democrats have called for transparency on why these programs were halted. A letter from Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine, Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota and Representative Sanford Bishop of Georgia criticized the freeze, writing: "The people impacted by this funding freeze are hardworking, rural Americans and small businesses. These grant recipients operate on thin margins and were relying on these funds to continue critical research, operate their business and support farmers."

What People Are Saying

Missouri cattle producer Skylar Holden said in a TikTok video of his EQIP loan that's now void: "That $80,000 that we have is supposed to go to our farm loan in the fall. If we don't have that money—that's our hay money, that's our farm payment money—if we don't have that money, we will lose this farm."

Joey Anderson, a cattle rancher living in Houston, Missouri, told Newsweek: "I was unaware that the funds from the USADA would be froze. I also had no knowledge that all federal employees would be asked to resign, including the agents I work closely with. The freezing of USDA funds has impacted our operation currently by us not being able to draw from our line of credit through the [Farm Service Agency].

Anderson continued, "That particular issue was remedied, and we were able to draw our funds, however the future with NRCs programs are unsure. We were looking forward to utilizing cost-share programs to improve our operation and currently have applications submitted. We also have a large ranch loan through the [Farm Service Agency] and utilize [livestock risk protection]. Without these tools, operations like ours—beginning and/or first generation—will struggle to maintain profitability."

Will Westmoreland, a southwest Missouri farmer and political consultant, in a video on TikTok said: "I think the worst thing that they did to us in rural America is that they convinced us somehow to place the culture wars over our own wellbeing."

What's Next

The White House has not provided a timeline for resolving the funding freeze. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has requested a review of 409 USDA programs, with some funding obligations under scrutiny through March 15.

Brooke Rollins, Trump's nominee for USDA secretary, is currently awaiting full Senate confirmation.