Florida Judge Blocks Debt Relief for Minority Farmers

A federal judge in Florida this week blocked the Department of Agriculture’s debt relief program for minority farmers. A white farmer in Florida challenged the program, facing farm loans and financial hardship during the pandemic. The farmer claims the debt relief program discriminated against him by race. According to Reuters, the District Judge blocked the $4 billion program, ruling the farmer had established a “strong likelihood” of the policy violating his right to equal protection under the law.

A separate judge in Wisconsin granted a temporary restraining order on the program earlier this month. USDA is defending the debt relief program, saying USDA employees and programs have discriminated against socially disadvantaged farmers by denying loans and delaying payments.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott said "I strongly support and thank Secretary Vilsack for standing up and fighting for this critical, urgent and much-needed legislation.”

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