Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture has issued an advisory encouraging all agricultural workers to take necessary precautions ahead of Hurricane Lala. The county agriculture department specifically targeted farmers with this warning.

The article asserts that despite its importance in crises, government services are often designed around bureaucracy rather than the people they serve, making access difficult and eroding public trust. To propose a solution, it offers a blueprint suggesting a new Cabinet-level Department of Services and giving implementation authority to a Deputy Chief of Staff for better delivery across all government levels.

The Trump administration's policies have reduced SNAP enrollment by 6 million participants since 2024, with further cuts through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act projected to slash $186 billion in funding by 2034. The changes, including stricter eligibility rules and reduced benefits, are exacerbating food affordability challenges amid rising inflation and could force states to cover $9 billion in costs.

A study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that the Budget Reconciliation Act of 2025 led to significant reductions in SNAP benefits, with Arizona experiencing the largest decline at 55%. Nationwide, SNAP participation dropped by 11% (4.5 million people) between July 2025 and April 2026.

The Department of Agriculture will inspect a Crumbl Cookies store in Charlotte, N.C., after a viral video showed employees appearing to do hair inside the bakery. Crumbl responded by closing the store, discarding dough, and hiring a cleaning crew, while customers expressed mixed reactions to the incident.

The Attorney General filed a lawsuit against two Mankato residents who placed rat poison in their yard to deter dogs, resulting in at least one dog ingesting the poison. A restraining order now prohibits the residents from keeping the poison in their yard, and the lawsuit seeks daily fines of $7,500.

The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration for refusing to release documents related to an executive order promoting glyphosate production. The lawsuit claims the order, which delegates authority under the Defense Production Act to boost glyphosate and elemental phosphorus production, was influenced by the pesticide industry. Bayer, the sole U.S. producer of glyphosate-based herbicides, is highlighted in the case.

Thousands of Puerto Ricans face severe water shortages, prompting the governor to activate the National Guard and emergency water distribution. Residents in areas like San Juan struggle with daily tasks, while the elderly and disabled face heightened challenges.

The CDC activated a formal emergency response to the New World screwworm after it was found in cattle for the first time in decades. The Department of Agriculture is leading efforts to monitor and address the infestation on the animal side.

MAHA is promoting a Department of Agriculture initiative to subsidize American cotton farmers and revive domestic textile jobs by replacing foreign synthetic materials. The campaign, called 'the Great American Cotton Plan,' is part of the movement's focus on clothing as well as food.

The article discusses the historical development of weather forecasting in the U.S., starting with Thomas Jefferson's creation of the Coast Survey to map coastlines and prevent maritime disasters. It highlights the establishment of the Weather Bureau in 1870 under the Department of War via the telegraph, later moved to the Department of Agriculture, and its role in saving lives and crops through storm warnings and agricultural forecasts.

A flesh-eating screwworm has reappeared in the U.S. after over 50 years, detected in southwest Texas and affecting a calf. The Department of Agriculture is taking immediate action to contain the parasite, which could increase beef costs if left unchecked.

The Department of Agriculture has proposed increasing line speeds in slaughterhouses to reduce food costs, but this would result in more animals being killed in potentially inhumane conditions, highlighting a moral wrongdoing on American soil.