Trump’s Controversial Megabill Cuts Food Aid for Families While Expanding Subsidies for Big Agriculture

On Friday, President Trump signed a new law that significantly impacts American agriculture. This legislation provides billions in subsidies to large farms but cuts food assistance for low-income families and weakens support for climate-focused farming programs.

The law includes:

• Subsidies Expansion: It increases funding for major crops like corn, cotton, and soybeans by $50 billion. Importantly, it removes rules that tied climate funding to the Inflation Reduction Act.

• SNAP Cuts: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could lose support, affecting over 22 million households. New work requirements may also impact parents, veterans, and older adults.

• Increased Immigration Enforcement: The law allocates an extra $100 billion for immigration control, which could disrupt the labor force that sustains U.S. agriculture.

Mike Lavender, policy director at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, voiced concern about this direction. He noted, “It’s sending the message that there’s only one way to support farmers, and it’s through increased commodity subsidies for a select few farmers.”

This legislation poses serious implications. By favoring large industrial farms, it could widen economic gaps and contribute to agricultural pollution. It may also hinder access to healthy food, as cuts to SNAP, the main defense against hunger, could increase food insecurity. Additionally, penalizing immigrant workers—many of whom are vital to the agricultural sector—risks creating labor shortages.

A recent study highlighted how legislation like this could inflate food prices, making nutritious options even more difficult to obtain. As growing land shifts toward biofuel production, vital sustainable farming practices could be sidelined, jeopardizing the country’s climate goals.

While the focus on large agricultural operations may bring short-term gains, many experts warn of long-term consequences, like environmental degradation and worsening food access.

For more on how agribusiness lobbying shapes policy, you can explore this report from Grist.

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climate change, environmental justice, public health