Biden Administration Distributes $2.2B to Discriminated Farmers

The Biden administration is facing a federal lawsuit from Georgia and other Republican-led states challenging new regulations aimed at enhancing protections for foreign seasonal agricultural workers under the H-2A program. The regulations, which prohibit the confiscation of workers' passports and mandate safety measures in transport vehicles, are argued by opponents to impose undue costs on farmers amidst high food prices. Meanwhile, the administration has also distributed $2.2 billion through the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP), aimed at compensating over 43,000 farmers and ranchers who faced discrimination in USDA loan programs before January 2021. This initiative, prompted by previous legal challenges against a debt relief plan for Black farmers, seeks to rectify inequities in federal support. President Biden emphasized the importance of this financial aid in helping farmers sustain their operations and contribute to the food supply. The program has seen significant participation, with many recipients from Southern states such as Mississippi and Alabama receiving substantial payouts.