USDA's Grant Cancellation Strategy: A Closer Look

The USDA took a unique approach to cancel grants in early 2021. They searched for specific words and phrases related to diversity and climate change. This was part of a larger effort across federal agencies to follow President Trump's orders. The president had strong opinions against diversity efforts and climate regulations. Documents obtained by FarmSTAND show the USDA's process. They looked for terms like "diversity, " "equity, " "inclusion, " and "environmental justice. " They also searched for phrases like "socially vulnerable" and "underrepresented producers. " These terms helped them identify grants for possible termination. The USDA uses "socially disadvantaged" to refer to farmers of color and sometimes women. Until July, they prioritized these farmers in funding. But with the new search terms, they expanded their review. They added 16 new topics related to climate change. These included "climate modeling, " "carbon pricing, " and "biodiversity. " It's unclear if all identified grants were canceled. The USDA terminated about 600 grants totaling over $3 billion. The canceled grants funded various projects. These included technical support for climate-friendly farming practices. They also supported local food purchases for schools and improved nutrition for food aid recipients. The cancellations have had a significant impact. Holly Bainbridge, a senior attorney with FarmSTAND, noted the effect. She said it has hurt organizations working for a fairer food system. These organizations support small local farmers and help get food to those in need. FarmSTAND obtained the USDA documents during litigation. They are suing the agency for grant terminations alongside Earthjustice and Farmers Justice Center. The documents provide a glimpse into the USDA's decision-making process. They show how the agency targeted specific grants for cancellation.