USDA Removes Climate Change References From Public Websites
Urgent directive to web managers sparks concerns about climate-smart agriculture initiatives.
On January 30, 2025, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) directed its employees to remove all references to climate change from its official websites, intensifying scrutiny over the government's stance on environmental issues. An internal email revealed instructions for web managers to identify, archive, or unpublish any landing pages connected to climate change, with compliance mandated by close of business on January 31, 2025.
According to the email obtained by various news outlets, including ABC News and Politico, the Office of Communications (OC) at the USDA emphasized the need for web managers to conduct thorough reviews of all climate-related content.
"Identify and archive or unpublish landing pages focused on climate change," the directive stated, calling for employees to document these pages for future review. This action has raised significant alarm among environmental groups and agricultural advocates, who argue it could severely impact the USDA's ability to support climate-smart farming practices.
Anne Schechinger, Midwest director at the Environmental Working Group, expressed concern over the removal of pages detailing climate-smart practices, stating, "Taking down the page makes it really hard for farmers to even know what to do on their farms for mitigation." She noted the potential confusion this could cause as farmers seek guidance on adaptation methods due to increasingly volatile weather patterns influenced by climate change.
The directive also recalls similar moves made during President Trump’s administration, when the EPA faced criticism for removing climate-related content from its online platforms. During those years, the USDA maintained some climate change information on its sites, but this recent initiative suggests a shift back toward limiting such discussions.
Mike Lavendar, policy director for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, asserted, "Climate change is a real thing. It’s impacting farmers and ranchers, and they know it." Despite the visibility of climate issues being diminished online, he stressed the agricultural community's acknowledgment of these challenges.
Parts of the USDA's climate information, including the Climate Hubs, which provide researchers and farmers with tools and data to combat climate issues, have remained online as of January 31, 2025. Yet, several key pages related to efforts for climate-smart commodities were already reported inactive. Experts have voiced significant concerns over the broader implications for climate policy at the USDA.
"It definitely has brought a lot of turmoil to farmers to know what they're going to be able to get funding for this year," she added, indicating the uncertainty stemming from the USDA's latest actions on climate initiatives.
Farmers have shown strong interest and demand for funding through programs established by the Inflation Reduction Act. The removal of climate change pages from USDA websites leads many stakeholders to fear reduced governmental support for practices aimed at minimizing emissions and improving environmental resilience.
Such fears are compounded by the complexity of current policies surrounding emergency federal funding for agricultural conservation programs. The Trump administration had previously issued executive orders aimed at halting funding for climate and energy projects, which has caused additional concern among farmers as they prepare for the upcoming planting season.
Despite these unsettling changes, environmental advocates and agricultural organizations remain hopeful. They argue for continued investment and support for agricultural sustainability and practices conducive to environmental health, as these practices enjoy bipartisan support.
Farmers need assurance of continued government backing, especially as they are on the front lines of climate impacts, facing unpredictable weather and natural disasters exacerbated by climate change.
Correspondingly, Schechinger claimed the investment made by the Inflation Reduction Act was the "single most important" step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture this nation has taken. She called for clarity from the USDA on its funding priorities.
With significant concern over how USDA content removals reflect broader governmental stances on climate action, stakeholders are closely monitoring how farmers will adapt and which practices will emerge as priorities for support. The upcoming weeks will shed light on the direction of policy and funding as farmers prepare for their seasons.
Without guidance from the USDA on climate-smart practices and policies, the path forward could become increasingly difficult for America's farmers. With climate change evident and affecting the agricultural sector, the urgency for clear communication and support from governmental agencies remains strong.
Environmental organizations and farming advocates alike are gearing up to challenge any efforts to downplay or obfuscate climate issues, recognizing the integral role climate-smart practices will play in securing sustainable food production under changing environmental conditions.