Labor Secretary: H-2A program changes aimed to help American farmers

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer says the labor program will now be fully under her department, and consolidation will make the program more affordable and efficient for farmers and ranchers.

Changes are coming to the H-2A labor program, and the Trump Administration hopes it will bring relief to American farmers.

In an interview with Fox Business, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer says the labor program will now be fully under her department. It’s currently under the jurisdiction of the Departments of Labor, Homeland Security, and the State Department.

Chavez-DeRemer says consolidation will make the program faster and more affordable for farmers and ranchers. She notes most of the H-2A program’s heavy lifting is determined by Congress. There are also no plans to expand the program, and she says she will not give amnesty to undocumented laborers. Instead, she’ll make it more efficient.

Another focus will be on getting more Americans working on U.S. farms. Chavez-DeRemer tells Fox that they’ll never replace an American worker, but they want to ensure farmers have the staffing they need. She says it’s now up to Congress to determine just how many visas will be allowed in the program.

Related Stories
The Trump Administration’s new rule limiting CDL renewals for immigrant truckers is seeing mixed reactions in agriculture. While some support the change, it is raising concerns about higher freight costs and impacts on U.S. grain export competitiveness.
As the strike at a JBS facility in Colorado continues, the National Right to Work Foundation is encouraging some employees to consider returning to work. The group says not all workers on strike may want to participate and urges those who choose to cross the picket line to resign from their union memberships.
Higher prices are bringing relief to markets, but rising input costs are putting pressure on the producers.
Suderman joins Tony St. James in the RFD Studios to discuss how geopolitical tensions are triggering global transport disruptions, new inflation pressures, and other challenges for agriculture to navigate.
Jake Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance offers his perspective on current cattle market conditions and shares advice for producers seeking to stay protected in an uncertain market.
India trade tensions may affect the U.S. export outlook.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Lewis Williamson, from HTS Commodities, joined us to share insights on the farm economy from producers in the field.
Key signs of the U.S. beef herd’s recovery are improved pasture conditions, lower feed costs, and increased regulatory alignment and support for producers to implement targeted grazing practices.
Dr. Mark Svoboda with the National Drought Mitigation Center discusses a new global drought report and resources to help operations increase drought resilience.
Treat financial stress as a health risk—know the warning signs, normalize conversations, and connect farm families to local and national support early.
Congress has just over a month of working days left for the year. Plan for uneven USDA service until funding is restored, and closely monitor Farm Bill talks, as avoiding Permanent Law before January 1 is the single biggest risk to markets and milk prices.
Mexico’s tougher, two-step treatment and added checkpoints are catching cases before they can spread—good news for producers near the border.