Federal Funding Freeze Update & Impacts

The organic community faces significant challenges following recent federal actions. On January 27, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced —then quickly withdrew— a pause on all federal agency grants and loans. This move triggered legal challenges, and within a day, the National Council of Nonprofits, represented by Democracy Forward, secured a temporary halt from U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan, citing potential "irreparable harm." In a new development, on February 3, Judge AliKhan issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administration from 'implementing, giving effect to, or reinstating under a different name the directives" contained in the original OMB memo.

While the immediate freeze is halted for now, broader Executive Orders remain in effect.

What’s at Stake

Federal funding is critical to organic organizations, farmers, and to our local communities. Many key programs at USDA are at risk and organic programs could be impacted.

Disruptions to these programs could lead to the loss of essential staff and services for organic organizations and harm farmers working to improve soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Farmers of color and historically underserved communities will be hit hardest, as many of the targeted programs are designed to address systemic barriers and promote equity in agriculture.

What You Can Do Right Now

NOC is actively engaging with coalition members, policymakers, and Congressional offices to track rapid policy changes, monitor the impact of these executive actions at USDA, and develop strategies to protect organic programs. If your organization and the farmers you work with have been impacted, we encourage you to contact your Members of Congress. Let them know how your organization and community are being affected. See the sample script below for guidance.

If you are not sure who to contact, reach out to us directly so we can give you the names, phone numbers, and emails of the relevant staffers for your Members of Congress.

If you have information or resources that may help other organizations, or if you need assistance navigating these challenges, please reach out to us. NOC is here to support the organic community and to facilitate information exchange among coalition members.

Sample Script for Contacting Your Members of Congress

**We encourage you to call your Members of Congress with the message below, but email messages are helpful too. You can connect directly with your Congressional offices by calling the Capitol Switchboard and then ask to be transferred to your member of Congress: (202) 224-3121

Subject: funding cuts threaten farmers and our community

Dear [Senator/Representative Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I live in [City/Town] in your district. I am deeply concerned about the recent attempts by the Trump administration to pause federal funding for USDA programs. These include conservation initiatives, support for organic agriculture, and financial assistance for farmers working to improve soil health and protect natural resources.

Rescinding funding for existing grants, loans, and cooperative agreements would severely harm farmers and the organizations that support them, directly impacting our local community.

What steps are you taking to protect farmers and ensure continued support for these critical USDA programs?

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Organization]