The narrative surrounding discrimination within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has shifted. While the USDA has often been criticized for its discriminatory practices against minority farmers, particularly Black farmers, recent legal actions claim the USDA is discriminating against White farmers.
For decades, the USDA has been under scrutiny for systemic discrimination against Black farmers. This was notably addressed through lawsuits like Pigford v. Glickman in the late 1990s, which acknowledged USDA’s racial bias in loan distribution, leading to reparations over $1.25 billion. Just this year, non-White farmers (and would-be farmers) were given $2.2 billion in reparations. These efforts were part of attempts to rectify past injustices, with the USDA admitting to the long-standing issues in its operations, especially in how loans and assistance were denied or delayed for many non-White farmers.
Recently, there have been lawsuits filed by White farmers claiming that they have been victims of discrimination. These farmers argue that current USDA programs, designed to assist “socially disadvantaged” farmers, explicitly exclude them based on their race. Robert Holman, a corn and soybean farmer, with support from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, has filed litigation against the USDA, asserting that these programs unconstitutionally prioritize racial categories over equality. The USDA’s initiatives, funded by acts like the Inflation Reduction Act, aimed at providing financial assistance to individuals who have faced discrimination. However, these programs define “socially disadvantaged” in a manner that includes race, leading to the exclusion of White farmers, regardless of their financial or operational needs.
In August, soon-to-be vice president JD Vance blasted the USDA for discriminating against White farmers. He said:
“The Harris Administration, for example, handed out farm benefits to people based on skin color. I think that’s disgraceful. I don’t think we should say, you get farm benefits if you’re a Black farmer, you don’t get farm benefits if you’re a white farmer.”
There’s a growing sentiment among conservative circles and some White farmers that these programs represent legitimate racial discrimination, where race is used not to level the playing field but to tilt it against another group. Figures like Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) and others have criticized these USDA initiatives, seeing them as an overstep into unconstitutional territory by using race as a criterion for aid distribution. This shift has sparked discussions on the legal frameworks surrounding racial equity in government programs. Critics argue that while addressing historical discrimination is necessary, the current approach might inadvertently create new forms of discrimination.
USDA got caught financially discriminating against white farmers & white women farmers at least twice in Biden’s years. Courts told them to stop. They keep trying. USDA needs scrubbed to the bone with a wire brush. @RepThomasMassie for Ag Secretary!!
— Just Be Honest (@dunce_patrol) November 20, 2024
There is a call for a comprehensive review of USDA policies to ensure they do not discriminate against any group, including White farmers. This would involve reassessing how “socially disadvantaged” is defined and applied in federal aid programs. Suggestions include moving towards more need-based criteria for aid rather than race-based, which could help in alleviating claims of racial discrimination while still supporting those historically underserved.
Deputy Counsel Dan Lennington of the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty said that anti-White discrimination extends well beyond just the USDA. “During the Biden administration, race discrimination infected every nook and cranny of the federal government,” he said. “These programs impact Americans and small businesses every day. The new Congress and administration should immediately dismantle each one of these discriminatory programs. Otherwise, we’ll see them in court.” WILL pointed the finger at 60 federal programs in 11 federal agencies engaged in racially discriminatory allocation of funds.
The federal government needs to understand that the solution to historic racial discrimination is not racial discrimination against a different group.