USDA to reopen 2,100 FSA offices, roll out US$3B amid ongoing shutdown

USA – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will reopen its 2,100 Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices this week and begin disbursing US$3 billion in financial assistance to farmers as the ongoing government shutdown enters its third week.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the move during an interview on Fox News, confirming that all FSA offices will officially reopen on October 23, restoring critical services that have been halted during the shutdown.

“The president directed me to reopen the FSA offices, about 2,100 of them around the country,” Rollins said.

According to him, the way the USDA programs work is you can’t in many cases get your check or cash it without those FSA offices being opened.

“The checks will begin to move again and the reason this is important is that we’ve got farmers who are working to make their payments, for rent, mortgages, or equipment, and they are not able to make those without these checks coming in,” she noted.

The reopening comes amid growing pressure from farm groups, lawmakers, and agricultural stakeholders who warned that prolonged closures would strain farmers already battling low commodity prices, high input costs, and trade disruptions, particularly with China and Mexico.

Restoring services amid shutdown

The partial government shutdown, now in its third week, has suspended operations across several USDA divisions, delaying key market-moving reports such as Crop Progress, export sales, and the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE).

Most USDA employees have been working without pay, a point Rollins acknowledged in a message posted on social media.

“Special thanks to our great USDA employees who continue to work without pay to serve our farmers and ranchers,” she wrote.

In social media posts, Rollins also criticized Democrats for the closures, emphasizing President Trump’s directive to prioritize agricultural services.

“President Trump will not let the radical left Democrat shutdown impact critical USDA services while harvest is underway across the country,” Rollins stated, adding that the USDA will resume Farm Service Agency core operations, including critical services for farm loan processing, ARC/PLC payments, and other programs.

Financial Relief for Rural America

The proposed package will complement a US$13 billion replenishment of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) that was already in preparation before the shutdown.

The CCC funding supports a larger USDA program aimed at easing the financial strain on producers affected by low commodity prices, rising fertilizer and fuel costs, and global trade challenges.

Earlier this month, more than 200 U.S. farm organizations sent a letter to President Trump expressing appreciation for the administration’s attention to rural issues but urging faster aid deployment.

“In the meantime, growers continue to face enormously challenging market conditions,” the groups wrote.

Lawmakers from key agricultural states have praised the USDA’s decision to reopen the offices. Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota said he met with President Trump and senior officials to discuss ongoing pressures on rural economies.

“We appreciate President Trump and his administration’s commitment to support our producers, including their announcement today that USDA will resume critical FSA services for our farmers and ranchers,” Hoeven said.

Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska highlighted the need to maintain momentum in the beef sector and mitigate trade disruptions with Mexico, which have been exacerbated by New World Screwworm infestations impacting cross-border livestock trade.

“Nebraska ranchers are making money for the first time in years. We must continue to stand with them while we look for ways to lower grocery prices,” Ricketts said.

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