Philip Brasher

The federal government is poised for a partial government starting Wednesday as President Donald Trump and congressional GOP leaders refuse Democratic demands to negotiate an extension of expiring health insurance subsidies.

Senate Republican Leader John Thune. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden said Tuesday that USDA was prepared to implement shutdown plans prepared by the previous administration if appropriations lapse at midnight due to a partisan deadlock over a stopgap funding bill.

The Trump administration plans to furlough more than 42,000 Agriculture Department employees, or nearly half of its current workforce, during a government shutdown.

Greer and Bessent to meet with Chinese as Trump kicks off Asia tour

The government shutdown reaches a new crisis point this week with the potential lapse in SNAP benefits, and President Donald Trump is in Asia for meetings that are scheduled to include his face-to-face with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

A customer walks down the grocery store aisle. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner)

A fiscal 2026 agreement for funding USDA and FDA rejects White House proposals to gut conservation technical assistance and international food aid programs and includes a provision to block the unregulated sale of some hemp-based or hemp-derived products, including Delta-8.

The Agriculture Department is seeking public comment on ways to tighten reporting of foreign ownership of agricultural land, including proposed actions that may require congressional action.

The price tag for a new package of farm aid appears to be growing. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., tells Agri-Pulse lawmakers have been talking about $7 billion in disaster assistance to go with the $15 billion or more being discussed in economic aid. The total cost of the package could range up to $22 billion, he said Thursday.