Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), under the leadership of Secretary Brooke Rollins, has terminated a controversial contract in New York aimed at educating transgender and queer farmers on “food justice and food equality.” The decision, announced by Rollins on X earlier this month, reflects a broader push to eliminate what the administration deems wasteful spending, raising questions about the intersection of identity, agriculture, and taxpayer funds.
Details about the New York contract remain sparse, as neither the USDA nor Rollins provided specifics on its scope, cost, or original intent.
However, Rollins’ statement on X—“I’m not even sure what that means but apparently the last administration wanted to put our taxpayer dollars towards that”—suggests it was part of a larger initiative she criticized as frivolous.
Posts on X from Rollins earlier in March also highlighted the cancellation of a similar $397,000 grant in the San Francisco Bay Area, aimed at supporting queer, trans, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) urban farmers with education on “food justice and values-aligned markets.”
While it’s unclear if the New York contract mirrored this exact model, the parallel language implies a focus on identity-driven agricultural programs.
The USDA’s Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program, which received an additional $14 million in 2023 under the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan, may have been the funding source for such initiatives. That program supports community-based efforts to enhance food security and sustainability, often targeting underserved populations.
However, Rollins and the Trump administration have framed these efforts as extraneous, with the Secretary vowing to refocus the USDA on its “core mission of supporting American farming, ranching, and forestry.”
The New York contract cancellation is part of a broader sweep by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Musk-led initiative tasked with slashing federal spending. On March 14, Rollins announced the termination of a $361,000 grant in New York City supporting queer and trans farmers and urban consumers, alongside the San Francisco cut. DOGE has claimed responsibility for canceling 239 contracts nationwide over a two-day period earlier this month, saving an estimated $400 million, including grants for studies on transgender health and identity-focused programs.
Rollins’ rhetoric aligns with this agenda. In her March 12 X post about the San Francisco grant, she remarked, “We are ending identity politics and re-focusing our agency,” a sentiment echoed in her critique of the New York contract.
The administration argues that such programs, funded under the previous Biden administration, diverted resources from practical agricultural support to nebulous social goals.
The terms “food justice” and “food equality” have gained traction in recent years, particularly among advocacy groups. Food justice typically refers to addressing systemic inequities in access to healthy, affordable food, often focusing on marginalized communities impacted by poverty, racism, or geographic isolation. Food equality, while less standardized, suggests ensuring fair opportunities within food systems, from production to consumption.