USDA Whistleblower Alleges Biden Loan Forgiveness Excludes White Farmers

A whistleblower has accused the Biden administration of discriminating against white farmers in its loan forgiveness programs, echoing controversies similar to the Pigford scandal of 2010. Under the American Rescue Plan Act, loan forgiveness was provided exclusively to socially disadvantaged farmers defined by race and ethnicity, leading to lawsuits by white farmers who claimed this policy violated the Constitution's equal protection clause. The program allowed minority farmers to have up to 120 percent of their outstanding debt forgiven, a policy that was kept relatively secret and sparked significant legal challenges. Critics compare this to the Pigford settlement, which was also criticized for widespread fraud and racial preferences under USDA leadership, including Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. White farmers like James Dunlap, who work multiple jobs to sustain their farms, were denied relief despite financial hardship simply because of their race. These developments have reignited debates about race-based government assistance and its implications for fairness and equality in agricultural policy.