White House to unveil $12B farm aid; $11B via Farmer Bridge payments, $1B for other crops
The White House will unveil a $12 billion farm aid package — funded through the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation and presented by the administration as enabled by tariff revenue — that delivers roughly $11 billion in one‑time Farmer Bridge Assistance payments to row‑crop growers and about $1 billion for other farmers whose crops don’t qualify. President Trump will announce the plan at a Monday 2 p.m. EST White House roundtable with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, lawmakers and growers, tying the relief to a nascent trade reset with China, which officials say has purchased and pledged millions of tons of U.S. soybeans.
📌 Key Facts
- The White House unveiled a $12 billion farm-aid package: roughly $11 billion in one-time payments via the USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance Program for row-crop farmers and about $1 billion for farmers whose crops do not qualify.
- The $12 billion will be funded through the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).
- The aid was announced at a Monday White House roundtable (2 p.m. EST) with President Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, lawmakers and invited growers from corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, rice, cattle, wheat and potatoes.
- The administration framed the funding as enabled by tariff revenue—Trump said the money “would not be possible without the tariffs”—and White House spokesman Kush Desai characterized tariffs as “leveling the playing field” within a broader reshoring strategy; White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly also offered an on‑the‑record statement about the aid and policy context.
- Trade context: after an October Trump–Xi meeting U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports were reportedly reduced from 57% to 47% tied to fentanyl cooperation, and officials have pointed to large Chinese soybean purchases (reports include at least 840,000 metric tons for Dec.–Jan., about 2.8 million tons since late October, and a pledge Bessent said could reach 12 million tons by end of Feb. 2026 and 25 million tons annually for the next three years).
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and others argued bridge payments were necessary for farmers; Bessent said Chinese negotiators “used our soybean farmers as pawns.”
- Farm-sector stress and broader economic concerns informed the move: American Soybean Association economists warned that elevated tariff rates on key inputs have created a “precarious” financial situation for growers, while consumer sentiment hit a 74‑year low and ISM new orders fell for a third straight month, with some manufacturers cutting staff or moving production offshore citing tariffs.
- For context, prior federal farm aid was sizable: more than $22 billion in 2019 and nearly $46 billion in 2020 (including COVID-era assistance).
📊 Relevant Data
According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, 95% of U.S. farm producers are White, while Black people make up only 1.24% of farmers despite comprising 12.4% of the total U.S. population.
Farm Producers - USDA-NASS — USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
Retaliatory tariffs since 2018 have cut U.S. agricultural exports by more than $27 billion.
U.S. agricultural exports to China fell nearly 40% between June 2024 and June 2025 due to tariff escalations.
Tariff escalations trigger another decline in US farm exports to China — Investigate Midwest
The 2018-2019 tariffs caused a reduction in US manufacturing employment of 1.4%.
Fact Check: Did the Trump tariffs increase US manufacturing jobs? — Econofact
📰 Sources (5)
- Trump publicly framed the farm‑aid funding as enabled by tariff revenue, saying: 'This money would not be possible without the tariffs.'
- White House spokesman Kush Desai said tariffs are 'leveling the playing field' and the administration is pursuing a 'nimble, nuanced, and multi‑faceted' reshoring approach.
- Axios reports the aid was announced at a Monday farmer roundtable (prior coverage previewed the unveiling).
- American Soybean Association economists warned last week that elevated tariff rates on key inputs are a significant cost factor, describing a 'precarious' financial situation.
- Context added: consumer sentiment hit a 74‑year low per University of Michigan; ISM shows new orders down for a third straight month, with some manufacturers cutting staff or moving production offshore due to tariffs.
- NPR reports the $12 billion will be funded through the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).
- Includes an on-the-record quote from White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly framing the aid and policy context.
- Confirms the announcement timing and participants at a White House roundtable (President Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins).
- Announcement timing and format: White House roundtable at 2 p.m. EST with Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, lawmakers, and farmers.
- Participant/crop detail: growers from corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, rice, cattle, wheat, and potatoes invited.
- China purchase status: about 2.8 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans purchased since late October; officials cite a pledge of at least 12 million metric tons by year-end and 25 million metric tons annually for the next three years.
- Bessent quote on rationale: said on Face the Nation that bridge payments are needed and that Chinese negotiators 'used our soybean farmers as pawns.'
- Historical context: prior farm aid totaled over $22B in 2019 and nearly $46B in 2020 (including COVID aid).
- Breakdown clarified: ~$11B through the USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance Program for one-time payments to row-crop farmers and an additional $1B for farmers whose crops do not qualify.
- Event specifics: Trump to announce at a Monday White House roundtable with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
- Trade context: Following an October Trump–Xi meeting, U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports reduced from 57% to 47% tied to fentanyl cooperation.
- China purchases: Reuters reported at least 840,000 metric tons of U.S. soybeans bought for Dec.–Jan. delivery, the largest since at least January.
- Bessent statement: China is on track to buy 12 million tons of soybeans by end of February 2026 and to keep 'every part of the deal.'