A group of Texas farmers has taken a bold step, launching a legal battle against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over its disaster assistance and pandemic relief programs. Their lawsuit, filed Friday, asserts that the USDA’s aid distribution methods are unconstitutional, alleging that they unfairly prioritize recipients based on sex and race, thus violating federal anti-discrimination laws.
Allegations of Unconstitutional Prioritization
Led by Rusty Strickland, these farmers argue that the USDA’s allocation of aid discriminates against non-minority farmers, resulting in them receiving significantly less government support. According to the complaint, the USDA’s distribution scheme favors minority groups, leaving other farmers at a disadvantage.
Texas Farmers Sue USDA Over Aid Distribution :The Core of the Dispute
At the heart of the dispute are eight government-funded programs introduced between 2020 and 2022. These programs aim to provide financial assistance to agricultural producers affected by natural disasters like wildfires and droughts, as well as those hit by disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Texas Farmers Sue USDA Over Aid Distribution : Shifts in Policy
The farmers highlight two key policy shifts introduced by the USDA. Firstly, a move towards progressive factoring in calculating financial assistance, which disproportionately affects larger farm operators like those involved in the lawsuit. Secondly, limitations on insurance premium refunds to underserved farmers, defined by the USDA as specific racial and gender groups.
Claims of Discrimination
The complaint contends that these policy changes result in non-minority farmers receiving less aid, even if they suffer similar losses. Rusty Strickland himself claims to have received 10% to 20% less aid compared to his wife, Alison Strickland, who operates their farm with him. The disparity, they argue, stems from Rusty being a white man while Alison is a woman.
Seeking Legal Redress
In their plea to the federal court, the farmers demand the nullification of the programs, asserting that Congress has not authorized the USDA to allocate funds based on race or sex. They seek to establish the unconstitutionality of the USDA’s actions in prioritizing aid recipients.
Texas Farmers Sue USDA Over Aid Distribution : USDA’s Response
The USDA has yet to respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit, leaving the farmers’ claims unanswered for now.
Legal Representation
Representing the farmers are Braden Boucek and Benjamin Isgur of the Southeastern Legal Foundation, along with William Trachman of the Mountain States Legal Foundation. Counsel information for the USDA remains unavailable.
