Photo: AFP
A Wisconsin dairy farmer is suing Trump's Department of Agriculture over alleged racial discrimination against white farmers.
According to the Associated Press, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed the lawsuit Monday (June 16) on behalf of white dairy farmer Adam Faust.
The lawsuit accuses the Trump administration of illegally denying financial assistance to white farmers by continuing programs that favor minorities. In April, the Wisconsin Institute warned the USDA of impending legal action, saying it had illegally continued to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion programs instituted under former President Joe Biden. Six Republican Wisconsin congressmen also urged the USDA to investigate and end the programs earlier this year.
“The USDA should honor the President’s promise to the American people to end racial discrimination in the federal government,” Faust said in a statement. “After being ignored by a federal agency that’s meant to support agriculture, I hope my lawsuit brings answers, accountability, and results from USDA.”
The lawsuit specifically cites three USDA programs that it alleges put white male farmers at a disadvantage and violate the Constitution's guarantee of equal treatment by discriminating based on race and sex.
According to the lawsuit, Faust is charged a $100 administrative fee to participate in a program designed to offset the gap between milk prices and the cost of feed. Minority and female farmers don't have to pay the fee to be eligible for the program, the lawsuit states.
Another USDA program guarantees 95 percent of the value of loans to women and minority farmers, while only guaranteeing white farmers 90 percent, putting Faust at a disadvantage, according to the lawsuit.
Faust also started working on a new manure storage system that could qualify for reimbursement under a USDA environmental conservation program. According to the lawsuit, 75 percent of his costs are eligible, while 90% of the costs for minority farmers would qualify.
The new lawsuit is among dozens of similar complaints filed by the Wisconsin Institute in 25 states attacking DEI programs. In April, the law firm told the USDA that it didn't want to sue, “but there is no excuse for this continued discrimination.”
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