USDA, SBA Partner to Help Farmers Challenge Federal Agencies

The USDA and Small Business Administration have signed a new agreement aimed at helping farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses challenge what the agencies describe as unfair federal regulatory and enforcement actions. The memorandum of understanding creates a formal partnership under USDA's Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework and includes a new USDA Lawfare Portal where producers can report regulatory disputes and seek assistance.

“Producers and ranchers who feed this nation should never face the full power of government alone,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. “This partnership with the SBA creates clear pathways for redress, ensures fairness in enforcement, and demonstrates that Washington stands with the hardworking Americans who sustain our country.”

“Farmers and ranchers do some of the hardest and most essential work in America, yet they have faced a growing burden from costly federal regulations - crushing generational businesses that lack the time, money, or legal resources to fight back,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With our MOU, the SBA and USDA now offer America’s producers a direct line to report lawfare, with a new infrastructure to deliver lasting regulatory reform. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are eliminating barriers and supporting small businesses in their mission to keep America fed, clothed, and fueled.”

Key Elements of the USDA–SBA Lawfare Partnership:

Joint Complaint Resolution: Unified workflow to route, investigate, and resolve lawfare matters dealing with other federal agencies submitted through the USDA Lawfare Portal.
Pattern Analysis & Reform: Shared data analysis to identify systemic issues and pursue policy fixes across agencies.
Government-Wide Shield: Coordination with partners including DOI, EPA, DOJ, and other federal agencies to defend producers and small businesses.
Transparency & Accountability: Clear pathways for redress that prioritize rural communities and American agriculture.

“Ranchers and permittees are essential partners in sustaining healthy public rangelands, and the Bureau of Land Management’s work starts with listening to the people who steward these landscapes every day," said Bureau of Land Management Director Stevan Pearce. "The USDA Lawfare Portal has become a valuable tool in that effort, enabling us to hear directly from ranchers and address concerns promptly. This is what real partnership looks like: listening closely, responding quickly, and finding practical ways to support working lands and the people that depend upon them."

USDA added the agreement is intended to reduce regulatory burdens, improve coordination between federal agencies, and provide producers with additional legal resources when facing disputes that could threaten their farms, ranches, or businesses.

Click Here to learn more about the USDA's Lawfare Portal or to file a complaint.

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