USDA wants public input on efforts to advance the fight against racial injustice. The department published a notice on the Federal Register and will take comments until July 15th.
President Biden signed an order his first day in office seeking to improve underserved communities. That announcement came as Ag Secretary Vilsack criticized lawsuits challenging the Minority Debt Relief Program.
His comments were released at a global biotech event. Vilsack said this about the five groups who have filed suit: “It’s a wonder were those farmers were over the last 100 years when their black counterparts were being discriminated against and didn’t hear a peep from white farmers about how unfortunate that circumstance was.”
A judge temporarily halted payments from the Minority Debt Relief Program. USDA has until tomorrow to file its response.
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USDA faces uphill battle in making its promise to socially disadvantaged farmers
Texas Ag Commissioner files lawsuit against USDA over racial discrimination