April 1, 2025

Contents

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

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Reconciliation

Republican leadership has publicly shared their desire to come together and move forward a budget resolution during this work period. The House and Senate do not have to pass identical budget resolutions to start the reconciliation process, and as long as the resolutions do not contradict one another, each chamber can pass resolutions to unlock the reconciliation process. Then, a final negotiated package can be considered further down the line. To accomplish this, Republicans are crafting two different sets of budget-cut instructions, a minimum of $3 billion in spending cuts for Senate Committees and a $1.5 trillion floor in cuts from House Committees. It is expected Senate Republicans intend to instruct Senate Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources, and HELP committees to each cut at least $1 billion, making up a $3 billion floor for cuts. The Senate could vote on a compromise budget through a vote-a-rama this week. However, using current policy baseline as a way to pay for permanent extension of tax cuts remains a major sticking point that will need to be decided by the Senate parliamentarian.

Chairman Thompson began talking openly this week about including parts of a farm bill in a reconciliation package. It is worth noting that reconciliation comes with a number of limitations that would impact the ability of the Agriculture Committees to include farm bill provisions in a reconciliation package. For example, according to the Senate “Byrd Rule”, if a provision does not produce a change in outlays or revenues (or only an incidental change), it is deemed extraneous and not eligible for reconciliation. So, in the context of a normal farm bill, having provisions or programs that don’t score can be a selling point, but in the context of reconciliation, that same quality can be a hindrance. This limitation of reconciliation will greatly restrict the parts of a farm bill that can and cannot be included in reconciliation, undoubtedly leaving large parts of a farm bill as stragglers after a reconciliation package is complete. 

Stephen Vaden Confirmation Moves Forward

The Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-AR) said that the committee will be working through the process to begin confirmation of Stephen Vaden for Deputy Secretary at USDA. The Committee hearing will likely be the week of April 7^th or early the week of April 14^th.

Senate Majority Leader Thune Leads BEAD Efforts

The Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) led a letter, and then provided remarks on the Senate floor, in support of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The program is aimed at expanding internet access to Americans in underserved communities, however, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has received criticism from GOP Senators around regulations and implementation under the Biden administration. The letter requests the removal of “restrictive labor requirements, provisions favoring government-owned networks over private investment, and guidelines that prioritize certain technologies over others and clearly contradict congressional pursuit of tech-neutrality.” 

Administration

Tariffs

President Trump is set to announce a new set of tariffs on April 2^nd, also termed “Liberation Day” by the administration. It remains unclear how aggressive or expansive the tariffs would be, though he’s promised reciprocal tariffs on every country that puts a tariff on American goods. Trump has already announced tariffs on autos and certain auto parts, which are set to take effect this week, and tariffs on non-USMCA compliant Mexican and Canadian goods. Many industry and foreign leaders have been working to get exemptions from these tariffs, as they could harm farmers and agricultural imports and exports. During a press briefing during a tour of Iowa agriculture on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins shared that any new compensation package for farmers affected by the tariffs will be determined after the tariffs go into effect.

USTR Releases Annual National Trade Estimate Report

Two days in advance of the White House tariff announcement, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) submitted its 2025 National Trade Estimate Report (NTE) to President Trump and Congress. The NTE is a Congressionally mandated annual report that is to be published by March 31 of year which details foreign trade barriers faced by U.S. exporters and USTR’s efforts to reduce those barriers.

HHS Announces Staff Cuts

Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy announced plans to cut 10,000 jobs from the agency, as well as 3,500 jobs from the FDA. Combined with earlier layoffs, the full agency staff will be cut from 82,000 to 62,000, despite concerns that critical agencies within HHS are understaffed and underfunded. The reorganization is said to save $1.8 billion annually and will cut the 28 divisions within HHS down to 15. A fact sheet released by HHS after the announcement said the cuts aren’t supposed to impact the FDA food reviewers or inspectors, but lawmakers have raised concerns about losing necessary staff to track foodborne illnesses, regulate infant formula manufacturing, and maintain institutional knowledge among employees.

Monarch Listing Comment Period Extended 

The public comment period for the proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is being reopened for 60 days, until May 19, 2025. Comments that were previously submitted do not need to be resubmitted. The listing of the Monarch has caused concern for farmers as it may cause restrictions on certain farming practices where the species is found. 

Insecticide Strategy

As a result of a court ruling, based on a request from EPA, the deadline for the Final Insecticide Strategy has been extended by 30 days to April 30, 2025.

Notable News

ICYMI: Torrey Advisory Group Vice President Cassandra Kuball was featured on AgriPulse Newsmakers to discuss trade – watch here.

• Can a New Commission Make America Healthy Again? – JAMA Network
• Could West Virginia’s Move to Ban Food Additives Spark a Nationwide Reform? – FoodBev Media
• Tariffs Likely to Cause Shifts in Livestock Rations – Brownfield Ag News
• How Trump’s funding freeze is affecting American farmers – PBS News
• Autonomy and AI to drive agricultural innovation and production – Magnolia Tribune
• White House Weighs Helping Farmers as Trump Escalates Trade War – New York Times 

This Week’s Legislation

• Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Honor Farmer Contracts Act to release funding for all contracts and agreements previously entered into by the USDA.
• Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE), John Larson (D-CT), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act to help address the shortages in veterinary services for rural communities.
• Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) introduced the Dietary Guidelines Reform Act of 2025 to create reforms to the Dietary Guidelines process and increase vetting disclosures for DGA Committee members.
• Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH) introduced a bill that would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a new tax credit and grant program to stimulate investment and healthy nutrition options in food deserts.
•  Reps. Burgess Owens (R-UT) and Jim Costa (D-CA) introduced the Mining Schools Act to expand mining and geological programs at colleges and universities.

Upcoming Hearings

Tuesday, April 1

• 10:00 AM: The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing to “Review S. 222, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, and Improving Children’s Health”

Wednesday April 2

•  10:00 AM: The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on “Constructing the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill: United States Secretary of Transportation’s Perspective.”

Staff Updates

Torrey Advisory Group welcomes Eden Lambert to the team as our newest Policy Manager. Lambert will focus on the firms’ commodities, animal agriculture, credit and crop insurance clients. 

Lambert previously was a graduate research assistant at the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University, where she dedicated her research to understanding how policy affected the affordability of various crop insurance options for producers. She also was as an intern for the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.

Lambert earned both her Bachelor’s and Master of Science in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University in College Station.

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.