Rollins Defends Trump Agriculture Agenda Amid Heated House Hearing on Farm Economy, SNAP, Trade, and Glyphosate
Democrats cite farm losses, rising costs, and hunger concerns while USDA secretary points to trade gains, cotton initiatives, fertilizer investments, and New World Screwworm response
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins spent much of Thursday defending the Trump administration’s agriculture agenda before the House Ag Committee, fielding pointed questions from lawmakers on the farm economy, trade disputes, fertilizer costs, SNAP reforms, cotton competitiveness, glyphosate, and USDA’s response to the first confirmed New World Screwworm detection in the United States in decades.
The hearing exposed deep partisan divisions over the state of agriculture, with Democrats portraying a farm economy under mounting pressure while Republicans highlighted new investments in farm programs, trade expansion, and animal health preparedness.
Chairman GT Thompson (R-Pa.) opened the hearing by praising USDA’s implementation of provisions contained in the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation and the department’s efforts to combat New World Screwworm, strengthen fertilizer production, and expand farm assistance programs.
Ranking Member Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), however, painted a far different picture, accusing the administration of worsening conditions for family farmers while reducing nutrition assistance for vulnerable Americans. “People are hurting out here. The rhetoric about the golden age of agriculture right around the corner, that doesn’t match the reality of what’s going on on the ground at all,” Craig said.
Rollins defends state of the farm economy. In her opening statement, Rollins argued that the administration inherited an agricultural sector facing severe economic challenges, including declining farm income, soaring production costs, and a massive agricultural trade deficit. “The challenges facing our farmers are real,” Rollins said.
She blamed much of the current stress on policies preceding the Trump administration, noting that the United States moved from an agricultural trade surplus to an agricultural trade deficit over the previous four years. “When we left in 2021, we had an $8 billion agricultural trade surplus. When we came back, it was a $50 billion agricultural trade deficit.”
Rollins highlighted increased reference prices, expanded base acres, tax relief provisions, trade agreements, and farm assistance programs as evidence that the administration is rebuilding the agricultural economy. “Over the past 16 months, we’ve worked nonstop to reverse this trajectory for American ag.”
• Farm losses and financial stress spark clash. Craig’s questioning quickly became the most confrontational exchange of the hearing. The Minnesota Democrat who is running for a Senate seat cited farm closures and bankruptcies as evidence that conditions have deteriorated under the administration. “We lost 15,000 farms last year.”
She also pointed to worsening financial conditions among producers. “Only 6% of farmers reported that their financial situation improved from last year.”
Craig further argued that bankruptcies are accelerating. “Farm bankruptcy surged 46% nationwide in Trump’s first year back in office.”
Rollins challenged several of Craig’s figures and argued that current problems stem from long-term economic trends and policies inherited from previous years.
The exchange frequently devolved into interruptions as Craig repeatedly reclaimed her time while Rollins attempted to respond.
• Diesel and fertilizer costs remain major concern. Craig repeatedly pressed Rollins on rising production costs, particularly diesel fuel and fertilizer. “You own these numbers at this point in time,” Craig said. She argued that higher energy and fertilizer prices are making it increasingly difficult for producers to remain profitable. Craig claimed that many producers now cannot afford fertilizer purchases. “Seventy percent is the answer across the country.”
Rollins acknowledged that fertilizer costs have risen sharply, particularly nitrogen fertilizer markets affected by disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz and global supply concerns. “Nitrogen… has increased about 40%.”
Meanwhile, Rollins argued that fertilizer inflation had already surged before the current administration took office.
The fertilizer issue resurfaced later when Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) raised concerns about dependence on foreign fertilizer supplies. Crawford warned: “Our supply chain is very fragile, and our production base is extremely limited.” Rollins agreed and framed fertilizer as a national security issue. “We used to produce our own fertilizer almost exclusively in this country… We now only produce about half of the fertilizer that we need.” She described ongoing efforts to accelerate fertilizer projects nationwide and reduce dependence on imports from foreign competitors and geopolitical rivals. “This is a solvable problem in the long run.”
• Trade policy and export markets. Trade policy emerged as another major battleground. Craig argued that tariffs have damaged export opportunities and reduced profitability. “We would have export markets still left in China.”
Rollins rejected that argument. “That was not the Trump administration. It was the Biden administration.”
Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) focused heavily on the impact of trade disruptions on California agriculture. Costa highlighted the importance of exports to specialty crop producers and cited severe declines in overseas sales. “California exports to China collapsed 64%… Almonds are down 77%.” Costa argued that specialty crop producers have suffered disproportionately and have not received sufficient assistance.
“It’s about fairness.” He noted that California accounts for nearly half of the nation’s fruit, vegetable, and nut production and warned that disrupted trade relationships have had major consequences for growers.
Rollins defended the administration’s trade efforts. “Already in the first year, we have secured 19 new trade deals.” She also argued that USDA expects significant improvement in the agricultural trade balance. “We now predict that that $50 billion agricultural trade deficit that we inherited in one year will be cut by 42%.”
• SNAP and nutrition programs generate sharp disagreement. Nutrition assistance became one of the most contentious issues discussed. Craig accused the administration of celebrating reductions in SNAP enrollment. “You’ve bragged on TV that it’s a great thing that you kicked 4 million people off SNAP.” She cited constituents who she said would lose assistance despite working and contributing to their communities.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) joined the criticism. “I’ve talked to many of the people who have lost their benefits… They haven’t been moved off of SNAP. They’ve been kicked off of SNAP.” McGovern argued that food insecurity is worsening. “Hunger is getting worse in the United States of America.” He also noted the limited value of SNAP benefits. “The average SNAP benefit is only about $2 per person per meal.”
Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) raised similar concerns. “SNAP participation nationwide fell by four million people… That’s not efficiency. That is hunger.”
Rollins strongly defended the administration’s approach. “The ability to work, the righteousness of work, is not something we should apologize for.” She pointed to anti-fraud efforts and enforcement actions. “Already in one year, we have made over 900 arrests… Over 120 convictions… $132 million already in restitution.” Rollins argued that USDA is restoring program integrity while ensuring assistance remains available to eligible recipients.
• Cotton industry and competition from Brazil. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) focused on USDA’s Great American Cotton Plan and legislation aimed at increasing domestic cotton utilization. Rollins said the U.S. cotton industry has steadily lost market share over the past decade. “America became number two in cotton exports.” She specifically identified Brazil as the leading competitive threat. “Brazil took over yet another market from our country.”
Rollins endorsed the goals of the Buy American Cotton Act and tied the initiative to broader efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing and agricultural competitiveness. “Plants, not plastics… America, not Brazil.”
The discussion reflected growing concern throughout the cotton sector about Brazil’s increasing dominance in global export markets.
•Glyphosate debate highlights MAHA tensions. One of the most notable exchanges occurred when McGovern questioned Rollins about glyphosate and pesticide liability protections. McGovern challenged the administration’s position on glyphosate and referenced concerns raised by international health organizations.
Rollins defended the herbicide’s continued use. “Glyphosate has been proven safe when used correctly both in the European Union and in America when used correctly.”
She warned that removing glyphosate from agriculture would have major consequences for producers. “If we were to move away from glyphosate overnight, we would completely destroy our food supply system in this country.”
McGovern continued pressing Rollins on liability protections and health concerns associated with glyphosate. As his time expired, he delivered one of the hearing’s most direct accusations. “It causes cancer, Madam Secretary.” He then repeated the statement. “It causes cancer.”
Rollins did not accept that characterization and continued defending glyphosate’s role in modern crop production while noting that USDA and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continue evaluating agricultural inputs under the Make America Healthy Again initiative.
The exchange highlighted a growing fault line between MAHA advocates seeking greater scrutiny of agricultural chemicals and farm groups concerned about preserving access to crop protection tools.
•New World Screwworm response draws bipartisan attention. The hearing also devoted significant attention to USDA’s response to New World Screwworm. Thompson praised USDA’s preparedness and emergency planning, while Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) commended the department’s transparency and rapid response.
Rollins outlined a broad strategy that includes quarantines, surveillance, sterile-fly releases, veterinary deployments, and construction of a major new sterile-fly production facility in Mission, Texas. “We were ready and prepared… We have now activated our New World Screwworm Response Playbook.”
She emphasized the scale of the eradication effort. “We need 400 million to 500 million flies per week to beat this back.” Rollins said USDA has invested nearly $1 billion toward prevention, response, and future eradication efforts. “We are on it.”
“We’ve invested almost $1 billion.”
The issue generated widespread bipartisan concern and was one of the few subjects where lawmakers from both parties largely agreed on the seriousness of the threat.
Bottom line: Thursday’s hearing revealed fundamentally different views of American agriculture. Democrats portrayed a farm sector struggling with rising costs, shrinking export opportunities, growing hunger, and policy uncertainty. Republicans and Rollins argued that the administration inherited those problems and is now rebuilding farm profitability through expanded commodity programs, trade agreements, domestic fertilizer production, cotton initiatives, nutrition program reforms, and stronger responses to animal health threats. The hearing’s most memorable moments came during exchanges over SNAP participation, fertilizer inflation, and glyphosate, where lawmakers repeatedly clashed over both the facts and the future direction of U.S. agricultural policy. Throughout the hearing, Rollins returned to a theme that has become central to her tenure at USDA: “Farm security is national security.”
