Recent actions by the new federal administration have impacted many grants and government contract programs. In many cases payments that farms or nonprofits expected have been delayed, paused, or frozen. If your farm or nonprofit has been impacted, we have resources and assistance to help you navigate next steps. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to act within 30 days to protect your rights.
How to Protect Your USDA Signed Agreement
Have you received written notice about the status of your USDA funding?
If No, you may want to send a letter asking for confirmation of the status of your funding.
This guide from Farm Commons explains how to send a respectful, professional inquiry letter that asks for clarity, preserves your rights, and builds a paper trail. Includes sample letters you can easily adapt to your situation.
If Yes, and if your grant is from NIFA or AMS, you can request that USDA reconsider the decision.
This guide from Farm Commons explains why and how to submit a “Review Request Letter” to appeal the USDA’s decision. It includes tips for framing your arguments and Sample Letters you can tailor to your situation. This is for organizations with signed grant awards from NIFA (National Institute of Food and Agriculture) or AMS (Agriculture Marketing Service) who have received a written notice of freeze or termination.
If Yes, and your grant is from NRCS, FSA, RD, RBS, or RMA, you can file a NAD Appeal.
These guides and 70-minute webinar from March 12, 2025 by Farm Commons explain why, when, and how to file a USDA National Appeals Division (NAD) appeal. They address common concerns and what to expect, list detailed steps, and include Sample NAD Appeal Letters. This is for those who have a signed agreement from NRCS (National Resources Conservation Service), FSA (Farm Service Agency), RD (Rural Development), RBS (Rural Business-Cooperative Service), or RMA (Risk Management Agency) and have received a written freeze or termination notice.
If you have been asked to amend your USDA signed agreement
These guides from Farm Commons are for businesses that received USDA Rural Development’s March 26 notification and want clarity on how and whether to propose project changes to better address President Trump’s Executive Order on Declaring a National Energy Emergency–before the April 25 deadline to propose project changes. They address common questions about amendments and walks through the advantages and risks of key options.
If you would benefit from personalized advice, apply to the Legal Food Hub for assistance.
For Attorneys
Relevant Executive Orders
EO 14154 (“Unleashing American Energy”)
Paused the disbursement of funds appropriated in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), including various USDA and EPA grants
EO 14151 (Ending Government DEI Programs)
Addressed grants to advance DEI or Environmental Justice programs, services, or activities, including USDA and EPA grants. Required federal agencies to terminate all “equity-related grants”
EO 14173 (“Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity”)
Required federal grant recipients and contractors to certify that they do not operate DEI programs that violate anti-discrimination laws, including USDA and EPA grants
Special thanks to Farm Commons for all of their exceptional work writing these guides.