President’s budget proposal includes cuts to USDA programs

The President’s 2027 budget, released April 3, includes $20.8 billion in discretionary budget spending for USDA, a 19% decrease from 2026 levels.

The budget (.pdf) outlines the administration’s proposal for spending for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 and is typically used as a starting point for congressional budget negotiations. It also includes a $150 million spending cut for National Institute of Food and Agriculture Capacity Grants, formerly known as Formula Grants and intended for land-grant institutions, schools of forestry and schools of veterinary medicine to fund research and Extension activities. 

The proposed budget also includes a $1.5 trillion spending request for national defense, a 44% increase, in addition to a $61 million spending cut for USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and a $240 million cut for the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program.

The budget also proposes $50 million for USDA to continue implementation of its reorganization plan.