Rep. Gabe Vasquez Joins Sen. Cory Booker to Introduce Bill Protecting Farmers from USDA Funding Freezes

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) in introducing the Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025, legislation aimed at ensuring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) fulfills its commitments to farmers by releasing frozen funds and preventing the agency from canceling legally binding contracts. Farmers must be able to rely on USDA funding to plan their planting season and prevent them from having to shut down their operations.

"Under Elon Musk's DOGE, the USDA has failed to honor its agreements, leaving farmers and rural communities in financial limbo," said Vasquez. "This bill will hold the agency accountable, ensuring our farmers receive the support they were promised to continue feeding our communities and driving our rural economies."

The Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025 requires the USDA to immediately unfreeze funding for all signed, existing agreements and contracts, ensuring the rapid payment of any past due amounts. Additionally, the legislation prohibits canceling signed contracts with farmers and agricultural organizations unless there is a failure to comply with the agreed-upon terms.

Under the new Administration, the USDA has paused reimbursements for previously contracted projects across multiple programs and terminated some agreements based on their inclusion of diversity and equity language, disproportionately harming small farmers and historically underserved communities. Several projects in New Mexico are still awaiting confirmation on whether the USDA will unfreeze their funding-many of which have already been actively collaborating with local producers. This includes the Community Food Project grant for Frontier Food Hub in Silver City and the Quivira Coalition's Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities funding. Additionally, the cancellation of the Local Food Purchase Agreement program has left food banks and the farmers who supply them without a critical funding source.

"New Mexico's farmers and ranchers work hard every day to provide for our communities, and they deserve to be treated with fairness and respect," Vasquez continued. "We are sending a clear message: the federal government must honor its commitments and stop playing politics with farmers' livelihoods."

"Farmers across the country have been in limbo ever since the USDA froze previously signed agreements and contracts, with many facing catastrophic consequences if these freezes continue," said Senator Booker. "USDA's refusal to pay what is owed to farmers and the organizations that support them is theft, plain and simple. It's a critical time of year for farmers and ranchers. They should be doing what they love - feeding our communities, not worrying about unpaid contracts. This legislation will fix that by forcing USDA and the Trump Administration to hold up their end of the deal."

"The USDA should not have free rein to leave America's farmers-the people who feed our country-out to dry. Honoring contractual obligations and disbursing funding that was approved by Congress isn't about red states or blue states. It's about right and wrong. It's about the American people being able to trust their government to follow through on their promises and commitments," said Rep. Pingree. "The Honor Farmer Contracts Act will ensure our farmers get the support and resources they were promised-and, in many cases, are counting on to keep their operations going."

"Whether through deliberate sabotage or sheer incompetence, Donald Trump's USDA has already created crisis after crisis for American farmers," said Rep. Jim McGovern. "This is especially true for our small and medium-sized farmers, who stepped up during the pandemic to feed the country and are now facing a USDA that is abandoning its commitments and purging expert professional staff. USDA programs are investments that the American people make in the farmers who sustain our communities. They are not Trump's playthings. I'm proud to partner with Representatives Vasquez, Pingree, Riley, and Senator Booker to defend against Trump's attack on independent farmers and local food systems."

"Our farms are already struggling to make ends meet under crippling tariff threats, a labor shortage, and an economy that props up Big Ag while small producers get screwed," said Rep. Josh Riley. "And now, to add insult to injury, this Administration is breaking its promises to them. Enough is enough. It's time for the USDA to unfreeze these funds and pay what they owe our farmers."

The bill has gained support from key members of the House Agriculture Committee and is now moving forward in both chambers as lawmakers push for swift action. Representatives Pingree, McGovern, Riley, Leger Fernandez, Tokuda, McClain Delaney, and Budzinski joined Representative Vasquez in introducing this bill.

To see the list of organizations endorsing the Honor Farmer Contacts Act, click here.

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