Several spending packages in the pipeline for final passage ahead of January 30 funding deadline

Last Thursday, January 8, the House of Representatives passed three FY2026 government spending bills – Energy-Water, Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS), and Interior-Environment. From an agriculture perspective, the Interior-Environment appropriations bill funds key services through the Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, Forest Service, and other independent agencies. In a third round of votes, the three-bill omnibus was eventually passed intact on the House floor by vote of 397-28. Most of this week, the Senate worked to clear procedural hurdles and eventually passed the three-bill spending bill the evening of Thursday, January 15, by a vote of 82-15. Now, the appropriations omnibus awaits the President’s desk for final approval.

On Wednesday, January 14, another two-bill omnibus was passed by the House of Representatives by a 341-79 vote which included funding for FY26 appropriations for Financial Services and General Government-National Security-Department of State (formerly Department of State-Foreign Operations-Related Programs or SFOPS). Now, the two-bill omnibus heads over to the Senate for final consideration and passage.

Up to this point, a total of six appropriations bills have been enacted into law—including those for Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Mil-Con VA, CJS, Interior, and Energy-Water. The other six remaining FY26 bills are still being funded by the current continuing resolution (CR), which will expire at the end of this month on January 30, 2026.

USRPA signs onto AFBF lead letter urging Congress to support additional agricultural economic assistance

On Thursday, January 16, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) lead and addressed a letter to the four corners of leadership urging Congress to consider more economic assistance for the agricultural sector. The letter highlights the alarming state of the current farm economy and the significant challenges producers are facing across the country. USRPA was among the 55 signatories of other national agricultural trade associations on the letter. You can find AFBF’s news release here and a link to the letter here.

USDA announces new APHIS leadership

On Monday, January 12, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that current Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Administrator, Dr. Michael Watson is expected to retire at the end of January. Beginning in February 2026, Kelley Moore will be the new APHIS Administrator taking over for Dr. Watson. USDA has affirmed that APHIS operations will continue uninterrupted and will remain steadfast in its agency mission to protect the health, welfare, and value of the Nation’s plants, animals, and natural resources. You can see the press release here. 

USDA announces new slate of political appointees

Last week, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new slate of political appointments to service in several different roles within the agency. These include: 

• The Honorable Doug Hoelscher was appointed as Minister-Counselor at the International Food and Agriculture Organizations in Rome, Italy 
• Tate Bennett was appointed as Principal Deputy Chief of Staff 
• Hailey Ghee was appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations 
• Mireya Brogan was appointed as Chief of Staff for Risk Management Agency 
• Troy Romero was appointed as State Director for Rural Development in Louisiana 
• Chris Lyons was appointed as State Director for Rural Development in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island 
• Dominic Restuccia was appointed as State Director for Rural Development in Michigan 
• Richard Stern was appointed as State Director for Rural Development in New Jersey 
• Travis Day was appointed as State Director for Rural Development in New Mexico 
• Cory Atkins was appointed as State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency in Delaware 
• Starlyn Perdue was appointed as State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency in Iowa 
• Philip Cowee was appointed as State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency in Nevada 
• Wilmer Stoneman III was appointed as State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency in Virginia 
• Patrick Bell was appointed as State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency in Washington 
• Kennon White was appointed to Assistant Chief South Region for Natural Resources Conservation Service 
• Kayleigh Hurley was appointed as White House Liaison