6 Threads--The Trump Administration's Impact on Rural America So Far.
Some hand-picked reading on federal (de-)funding, the Trump/Musk war on workers, Congressional politics, people in power, anti-conservation conservatives, and trade/tariff thoughts.
Hello there, readers and friends of The Cocklebur. I appreciate you following along.
I wanted to close the week with a reading list based on 6 threads weaving together in our nation’s capital these days that matter a lot to all of us. This list focuses on the impacts of the Republicans-in-Power-of-all-the-Branches transition as they relate to rural people, rural places, and rural economies.
Things have changed quickly and it’s hard to keep up. President Donald Trump has come out firing (literally) since his inauguration a few weeks ago, aiming his Elon Musk rocket at federal government competence and respect for workers’ rights. And the Republican-controlled House and Senate are spending their time on doctoring/cutting critical government programs as a smokescreen for their biggest priority: de-funding the federal budget through tax cuts that primarily benefit billionaires, corporations, or any other member of the top 0.1%.
So check it out if you have time and the gumption to read some great reporters and experts out there filling the void that exists beyond the Fox News/The Atlantic spectrum. So check it out if you have time.
And have a wonderful weekend. Try to stay warm out there.
—Bryce, Founder and Publisher of The Cocklebur
1.) Trump’s Federal funding freeze continues to withhold payments from numerous rural/small town/farm programs:
“Trump’s Funding Freeze Creates Chaos and Financial Distress for Farmers—Efforts to transition farms to regenerative agriculture are stalled, and the path forward is unclear.” Lisa Held, Civil Eats.
“Where did billions in climate and infrastructure funding go?—From clean energy projects to bridges, this interactive tool shows what projects lawmakers announced in your neighborhood.” Clayton Aldern, Grist.
“Farmers, Rural Clean Energy Projects Still Being Locked Out of Federal Funding—Even after a court ruled that the Trump Administration must pay previously agreed-upon federal contracts, Trump continues to hold back funds for many farm and rural projects.” Bryce Oates, The Cocklebur.
2.)Trump and Trump-pal Elon Musk’s War on Federal Workers:
Elon Musk speaking with Donald Trump at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, earlier this month. Musk is offering $100 to registered voters in Pennsylvania to sign a pro-Trump petition. Alex Brandon/AP
“‘Cruelty Is the Point’: The Toxic Trickle-Down of Musk’s Government Purge—Kyla Bennett, former EPA whistleblower, says Musk’s DOGE “coup” has major ramifications for rural America.” Justin Perkins and Joel Bleifuss, Barn Raiser.
“Forest Service fires 3,400 people after ‘deferred resignation’ deadline passes—The cuts amount to about a 10 percent reduction in the agency’s workforce.” Marcia Brown and Jordan Wolman, Politico.
“The Trump-Musk War on Federal Workers Could Hit Rural America hard.
239 rural counties from all over the nation have local economies driven by federal and state government employees.” Bryce Oates, The Cocklebur. 3.) House Republican Budget Draft Sacrifices food assistance and health care for tens of millions of people while digging an enormous deficit pit to pay for tax cuts for rich people and the corporations they control.
3.) Republicans Move Draft Legislation Through House Budget Committee that Slashes Food Aid and Health Care While Borrowing Trillions of Dollars for Billionaire/Corporate Tax Cuts:
(NOTE—I know that one is a little wordy. My bad.)
House Republicans advance their budget after appeasing hard-liners—The House Budget Committee adopted a budget resolution Thursday as GOP leaders work to unlock the power to enact major Republican priorities along party lines. Jennifer Scholtes, Politico.
House Republican Budget Proposal: Cut Taxes for the Rich, Punish the Poor—GOP House leaders would cut health care and food assistance benefits by $1.1 Trillion over the next decade to pay for tax cuts for billionaires/corporations. The cuts would devastate rural America. Bryce Oates, The Cocklebur.
SNAP Benefits In Crosshairs: House Budget Proposal Targets $230 Billion in Ag Spending Cuts. Rebekah Alvey, Successful Farming.
4.) Senate Confirms Brooke Rollins as new Secretary of Agriculture:
“Senate Confirms New Ag Secretary—Brooke Rollins Wins Strong Bipartisan Vote to Become Agriculture Secretary.” Chris Clayton, DTN/Progressive Farmer.
“Senate Confirms RFK, Jr. and Brooke Rollins to Lead Food and Agriculture Agencies.” Lisa Held, Civil Eats.
“Brooke Rollins confirmed as Trump's agriculture secretary as tariff fights loom.” Matt Brown and Scott McFetridge, Associated Press.
5.) Canceling the Biden/Haaland Interior Department Commitment to Public Land Conservation:
(NOTE—Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland guided the Biden Administration in a very conservation-oriented, pro-tribal direction during their term. Still, there was plenty of drilling and permitting fossil fuel projects and promoting extractive industries than I would have liked to have seen. And it boggles the mind why the Biden team didn’t name 20+ National Monuments under the Antiquities Act way back in 2021 when they announced their America The Beautiful Effort to conserve 30% of U.S. land by 2030. The point is it’s time to get ready for some serious public lands battles in the next four years.)
“Directive From New Interior Secretary Weakens Public Land Protections to Push Fossil Fuels—Doug Burgum’s order would hobble clean energy development, hinder protections for migratory birds and endangered species and open significant landscapes to resource extraction.” Lisa Sorg and Wyatt Myskow, Inside Climate News.
“Statement on Burgum secretarial order calling for review of national monuments.” Center for Western Priorities.
“Trump names oil and gas advocate to lead agency that manages federal lands—Kathleen Sgamma to oversee Bureau of Land Management, agency that manages quarter-billion acres of public land.” Associated Press.
6.) Tariffs, Trade, That Sort of Thing:
President Trump’s tariffs bring return of uncertainty for America’s farmers—Midwest farmers fear economic fallout as Trump’s shifting tariff policies reignite trade tensions with key partners. Many worry that new trade wars will further disrupt global markets, leaving them with fewer buyers and declining profits.” Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest/Report for America.
“U.S. Faces Record Agricultural Imports, Worst Trade Deficit in History.” Andrew Rechenberg, Coalition for a Prosperous America.
“Today’s Trade Agreements Put Profits Before People—These treaties harm both farmers and consumers by squeezing food systems for maximum profit.” Jim Goodman, The Progressive.
The Cocklebur covers rural policy and politics from a progressive point-of-view. Our work focuses on a tangled rural political reality of dishonest debate, economic and racial disparities, corporate power over our democracy, and disinformation peddled by conservative media outlets. We aim to use facts, data, and science to inform our point-of-view. We wear our complicated love/WTF relationship with rural America on our sleeve.