July 8, 2025

Contents

• What We’re Watching
• Notable News
• This Week’s Legislation
• Upcoming Hearings
• Contact the Team

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Reconciliation

On Thursday July 3, Congress officially passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act through both chambers, and the bill was signed into law by President Trump on July 4. Passing the bill through the Senate proved to be a tumultuous process as Republican Senators spent a great deal of time negotiating provisions and offered amendments to the bill through the vote-a-rama.   Ultimately, Senators Collins (R-ME), Tillis (R-NC) and Paul (R-KY) joined all Democrats to vote against the measure, but it passed with Vice President JD Vance as the tiebreaking vote. Notably, the final bill cuts about $200 billion from nutrition programs, and includes major changes in the SNAP cost-share allowing states that have error rates above roughly 13.33 percent in 2025 and 2026 to be exempt from covering additional costs of the program for up to two years before they need to start paying a higher share.

While the bill provided Congress with an opportunity to move components of the farm bill such as investments in the farm safety net, animal health and disease prevention, and research, it excluded major provisions like rural development and suspending permanent law which stops certain farm support programs from reverting back to price support framework from the early 1900s. Republicans on the House and Senate Ag Committees have indicated they will look for ways to come together on a “skinny” farm bill to address the rest of the provisions that were not included.

Appropriations

Now that the reconciliation package has passed, lawmakers will turn their attention to other legislative priorities, like appropriations. The House Appropriations Committee has already passed their version of the FY26 Ag-FDA bill. The Senate has not released their text yet but will hold a full Appropriations Committee markup on Thursday for Ag-FDA, Commerce, and the Legislative Branch bills. House Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) is aiming for all 12 bills to move through their respective Committees before August recess.

Retirements

Following pressure around the reconciliation package, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced he will not be running again in 2026, opening up a competitive seat in the Senate. In the House, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) also announced he will not be seeking re-election and Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) has indicated he will be running for Governor of South Dakota in 2026. This is just the most recent spate of retirement announcements that will impact the 2026 mid-term election dynamics but expect more to come later in the year.

Administration

USDA Secretary Rollins Announces New Appointments

Secretary Rollins announced the most recent slate of presidential appointments to USDA on Thursday. Dr. Justin Ransom will be appointed as the Administrator of the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS); Michelle Bekkering will be appointed as the Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs; Peter Laudeman will be appointed as the Senior Policy Advisory for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs; Jacqueline Thomas will be appointed as the Director of External Communications for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC); and John Greene will be appointed as the Chief Operating Officer for the Rural Development Business Center. Additionally, Stephen Vaden was sworn in as Deputy Secretary of USDA on Monday, July 7.

FY24 SNAP Error Rates Released

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) released the annual SNAP state payment error rates for FY24, which found that the national payment error rate is 10.93%. Due to the reconciliation package changing requirements for cost-sharing based on state error rates, the report raises concerns for many states with error rates at or above 10%, namely for Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Hawaii and Rhode Island, which have some of the highest error rates out of all the states.

FDA Releases Priorities for Human Foods Program

The FDA Human Foods Program released a list of guidance topics that will be prioritized in this administration. The topics focused on food safety, like metal levels in infant and children’s food, traceability, food color safety, and guidance for new dietary ingredients.  

President Trump Pushes Reciprocal Duty Deadline to August 1

On Monday, President Trump signed an Executive Order determining that the reciprocal tariff rates, which were initially set to go into place July 9, have been pushed back to August 1, 2025. President Trump also sent a series of letters to over a dozen countries informing them of their new reciprocal tariff rates, which will take effect on August 1. According to the White House, the President took these actions based on the “information and recommendations from senior officials, including information on the status of trade negotiations.” The Administration has indicated that there may be more letters distributed to trading partners over the coming days and weeks and that the August 1 ‘deadline’ is “firm but not 100% firm,” according to Trump.

Notable News

• Canadian MPs tie USMCA negotiators’ hands on dairy, poultry – Agri-Pulse 
• Rollins backs North Carolina, pork producers in California tiff – Washington Examiner
• USDA grant cuts leave food groups, farmers scrambling – CBS News 
• Why is the USDA dropping millions of flies over Texas? – Chron 
• DCCC targets 35 House Republicans over budget law’s impact on rural housing – Roll Call

This Week’s Legislation

• H.R.4284 – To amend the Small Tract Act of 1983 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey, without consideration, certain cemeteries, and for other purposes. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-3). 
• H.R.4277 -To amend Title XIX of the Social Security Act to clarify that rural emergency hospitals are treated as outpatient hospitals for purposes of Medicaid payment, and for other purposes. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Donald G. Davis (D-NC-1). 
• H.R.4279 – To prohibit entities integral to the national interests of the United States from participating in any foreign sustainability due diligence regulation, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive of the European Union, and for other purposes. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI-5). 
• H.R.4255 – To remove the Mexican wolf from the lists of threatened species and endangered species published pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and for other purposes. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ-9). 

Upcoming Hearings

 Thursday, July 10 

• 9:30 AM ET: Senate Appropriation Committee Markup of Commerce, Justice, Science; Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA; and Legislative Branch Appropriations Acts 

Contact the Team

Feel free to contact Michael Torrey, Tara Smith, Cassandra Kuball, Barbara Patterson, Katie Naessens, Julie McClure, Nona McCoy, Danielle Nelson, Ashley Smith, Olivia Lucanie, Caroline Sowinski, Eden Lambert, Tracy Boyle, or Grace Walker with any questions or comments.

Food and agricultural organizations that need the right results in Washington, D.C. can trust Torrey Advisory Group to put its relationships, reputation, and expertise to work on your issue. Since 2005, the firm has successfully provided legislative and regulatory guidance, issues management, and association management services to a wide variety of clients. Learn more about us at torreydc.com.