The administration will soon detail payments to farmers affected by low crop prices and trade disruptions; a previously expected aid package of up to $15 billion was delayed by a 43-day government shutdown. USDA officials are still calculating how recent trade deals with countries like Pakistan and Japan will affect individual payouts. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also announced planned "structural changes" to SNAP after Thanksgiving, including a requirement that recipients reapply as part of anti-fraud efforts. Since February 2025 the USDA reports 127 arrests tied to SNAP fraud, leading to 63 convictions and over $16.5 million in fines and fees.
US to Announce Farmer Aid Payments and SNAP Reforms, Agriculture Secretary Says
The administration will soon detail payments to farmers affected by low crop prices and trade disruptions; a previously expected aid package of up to $15 billion was delayed by a 43-day government shutdown. USDA officials are still calculating how recent trade deals with countries like Pakistan and Japan will affect individual payouts. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also announced planned "structural changes" to SNAP after Thanksgiving, including a requirement that recipients reapply as part of anti-fraud efforts. Since February 2025 the USDA reports 127 arrests tied to SNAP fraud, leading to 63 convictions and over $16.5 million in fines and fees.
07:27 AM, 11/20/2025Economy
By Leah Douglas
The administration said it will soon release details of payments to farmers harmed by weak crop prices and trade disruptions, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said. Farmers this year faced large harvests while losing billions in soybean sales after China shifted purchases to South American suppliers amid stalled trade talks.
The administration had been expected to roll out a farm assistance package of up to $15 billion in October, but Rollins said the 43-day federal government shutdown delayed that plan. She told NewsNation that resumed soybean purchases by China and other agricultural trade agreements have eased conditions for some producers, but many remain under financial stress.
"There's no doubt that the farm economy for a lot of reasons is really, really struggling right now," Rollins said. "We'll soon be announcing a potential bridge payment for those who are still facing losses."
USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden told reporters that the department is still calculating how recent trade agreements with partners such as Pakistan and Japan could affect individual payments. Bloomberg reported Rollins had signaled details would be released in early December; the USDA did not immediately confirm a specific timing.
During President Trump's first term, the federal government provided more than $23 billion in payments to farmers for trade-related losses. Many farm communities have been strong supporters of the administration.
More SNAP changes coming
Rollins also said the USDA will announce "structural changes" to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) the week after Thanksgiving. As part of an anti-fraud effort, she has indicated the agency will require all SNAP recipients to reapply to confirm ongoing eligibility.
Under existing federal rules, the nearly 42 million people who receive SNAP already must periodically recertify with state agencies, typically every six to 12 months. During the recent government shutdown, SNAP benefits briefly lapsed for the first time, forcing some recipients to skip medication or cut other essentials to afford groceries.
A USDA spokesperson said that since February 2025 the agency has made 127 arrests related to SNAP fraud, resulting in 63 convictions and more than $16.5 million in fines and fees. The USDA did not provide further details about the individual cases.