Farmers in Aztec, N.M., delayed a $47-acre land purchase for months after Agriculture Department loan processing stalled during the shutdown and staff departures. With only half a dozen loan specialists remaining in the state, the couple turned to private lenders, absorbing over $200,000 in extra interest. Their organic baby food business aimed to expand heirloom corn production but faced indefinite delays. The USDA lost over 20,000 workers through mid-2025, leaving many local offices understaffed or vacant. Farmers nationwide report difficulty accessing loans, grants, and technical assistance. Senator [PERSON_NAME] criticized cuts to rural development programs, calling them cost-efficient services being demolished. USDA Deputy Secretary [PERSON_NAME] defended reductions as voluntary departures due to budget constraints. The Farm Service Agency now has no staff in dozens of counties, forcing farmers to travel farther or abandon applications. These strains compound challenges for an already struggling farm economy, particularly affecting new and remote producers.

The Trump administration's push to shrink federal bureaucracy has undercut service delivery to farmers, a key constituency. With over 110,000 employees initially, the department now reports about 93,000 workers after some rehiring. However, divisions directly serving farmers saw even higher departure rates. Local offices once trusted by communities now operate with skeletal staffing, disrupting basic functions like loan approvals and housing assistance.

Affected farmers describe increasing barriers to entry and reduced access to government aid in the poorest and most remote areas. The ripple effects highlight tension between cost-cutting goals and maintaining essential rural services that support agricultural communities nationwide.