President's Proposed Federal Budget Is A 'Staggering Disinvestment' In Farmers And Rural Communities,' Puts Hurdles In The Way Of Chesapeake Bay Restoration

On April 3, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued statements on the President's proposed 2027 US Department of Agriculture Budget.  Here's what they had to say--

NSAC

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition responded to the Trump Administration’s release of the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Budget Proposal. 

The Administration’s FY2027 discretionary funding request for USDA is more than $2 billion below the Administration’s FY2026 USDA request.

“The Administration’s USDA budget proposes one of the most staggering disinvestments from farmers and rural communities in recent memory,” said Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director.

“Amidst rising farm bankruptcies and unprecedented instability in American agriculture, this budget proposal would double down on the damage and radically reduce USDA’s ability to serve farmers. 

“The budget entirely eliminates funding for farmer-led agriculture research, conservation support that helps farmers build productivity and resilience, and investments in urban agriculture and rural small businesses alike.” 

The budget proposal includes significant staffing cuts at the Farm Service Agency, a USDA agency that is essential to supporting farmer viability in county offices across the country. 

Similarly, the budget would siphon significant funding directly from farmers by using popular conservation programs – such as the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program – to pay for Natural Resources Conservation Service staff. 

Additionally, the following programs would receive zero discretionary funding in FY2027 under this budget proposal:

-- Conservation Technical Assistance

-- Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program

-- Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Program:

     -- Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program

     -- Outreach and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program

-- Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production

-- Local Agriculture Market Program:

     -- Farmers Market Promotion Program

     -- Local Food Promotion Program

     -- Value Added Producer Grants

-- Organic Transitions Research, Education, and Extension Program

-- Healthy Food Financing Initiative

-- Rural Energy for American Program

-- Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program

-- Rural Business Development Grants

Stay tuned for a deeper analysis from NSAC.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is an alliance of grassroots organizations that advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and rural communities.

CBF

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued this statement--

Throwing new obstacles at Chesapeake Bay restoration, the Trump Administration rolled out a top-line budget proposal today that undermines the science and programs needed for a healthy Chesapeake Bay.   

Restoring the Bay relies on support from many federal efforts that would be slashed or eliminated in the latest budget request. 

Last year, Trump’s budget proposed similar cuts to investments in programs needed for a healthy Bay. In recent months leaders in the US House and Senate rejected those reckless cuts and funded Bay restoration efforts.  

While the current “skinny budget” does not include detailed levels on all programs, the top line results are concerning. 

Proposals related to Chesapeake Bay restoration in the Trump Administration’s budget proposal include: 

-- A 52 percent overall decrease in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency budget. The proposal does not detail levels for the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program, which is currently funded at $93 million. The majority of the Bay Program funding goes directly to work in communities that leads to healthier waterways, including grants for tree plantings, oyster restoration, and other community projects. 

-- NOAA’s environmental and climate education grants would be eliminated. That includes the Bay Watershed Education and Training program (BWET), which jump-starts hands on learning outside for students and teachers around the Chesapeake Bay. 

-- Reduced investment in NOAA climate science research programs. More frequent and more intense storms due to climate change wash more pollution into the Chesapeake Bay, and warmer water temperatures harm fish and wildlife. This threatens coastal communities, fisheries, and our ability to restore the Bay. Cutting this research at NOAA would hamper our understanding and adaptation to these threats. 

-- Major cuts to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), including elimination of the USGS Ecosystems Missions Area. This includes programs that provide the critical science necessary for restoration and conservation in the Chesapeake Bay region and that help manage invasive species, such the invasive blue catfish. 

-- Cuts to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund totaling $2.5 billion. This program provides communities across the watershed with financial support to put in place practices that reduce pollution in rivers and streams. That includes upgrades to wastewater and sewage systems needed to prevent disasters like the recent Potomac River sewage spill.  

-- The elimination of the EPA’s environmental justice programs, which aim to protect the health of people in communities where they are at risk from pollution.  

Congress will now aim to pass a budget before the end of the fiscal year on September 30. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) urges lawmakers to reject the steep cuts for Chesapeake Bay work in the Trump Administration’s budget request.  

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Senior Vice President for Programs Alison Hooper Prost issued the following statement:  

“The Chesapeake Bay must be feeling a bad case of déjà vu. President Trump is once again swinging a wrecking ball at the very work that keeps the Bay alive.  

“This budget pulls the rug out from under one of America’s greatest environmental success stories: the Chesapeake Bay. 

“If the Trump budget becomes reality, kids will lose hands-on outdoor learning, science needed to make waterways safe to swim and fish will be sidelined, and pollution will continue to threaten people’s health. 

 “The cuts proposed by the Trump Administration could leave cash-strapped states struggling to meet their commitments to reduce pollution to the region’s waterways. 

“Just a few months ago, Congress rejected similar cuts in a show of bipartisan support for the Bay. 

“Now Congress must once again protect the work needed to fulfill the federal government’s promise to restore the Chesapeake Bay.”  

For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA webpage.  Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column).  Click Here to support their work.

Related Articles This Week:

-- Penn State College Of Ag Sciences Bay In The Balance Stakeholders Explore Agriculture As A Solution To Restore The Chesapeake Bay  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Grant Will Help Pennsylvania Farmers Connect For Healthier Local Waters  [PaEN]

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Program News: Funding, Education, Technical Assistance Opportunities; County Projects Finished; More!

-- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA: April 21 PA State Technical Committee Meeting, 1:00 p.m.

-- Penn State Extension Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium Set For May 5 In Harrisburg  [PaEN] 

-- Susquehanna River Watershed Low-Flow Conditions Trigger Stop To Shale Gas Drilling Water Withdrawals At 11 Locations In Bradford, Susquehanna, Wyoming Counties  [PaEN]

-- Friends Of The Allegheny Wilderness: US Forest Service New Regional Headquarters To Be In Warren  [PaEN] 

-- Help Wanted: Armstrong County Conservation District - Dirt, Gravel, Low-Volume Road Resource Conservationist  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Inquirer - Andrew Seidman: How LCT Energy’s Rustic Ridge Coal Mine In Westmoreland County Won Over Harrisburg, Shapiro Administration, Now In Fight With Local Environmental Group 

-- City & State PA: Pennsylvania’s Next Generation Of Farmers Are Finding Their Roots

-- Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: How Upstream Conservation Efforts Benefit The Chesapeake Bay

-- WESA/Inside Climate News-Kiley Bense: Avian Flu Has Killed Thousands Of Birds In The US, Pennsylvania Is At The Epicenter  

-- WPSU: Cause Of Fish Kill In Pine Creek, Centre County Unclear, But Environmentalists Say Documenting Issues Is Important 

-- York Daily Record: Cleanup Crews Removed 90 Tons Of Oily Debris, 13,000 Gallons Of Oily Water From J&K Junkyard Fire 

-- PA Capital-Star: With $4.5 Billion On The Line, PA Businesses Seek Refunds Of President’s Illegal Tariffs; Lancaster Business: ‘This Is Not A Way To Make The World A More Just And Equitable Place For All’

[Posted: April 4, 2026]  PA Environment Digest