Wide range of nonprofits take action against U.S. Department of Agriculture for illegal withholding of important funding, seek order to reverse grant terminations
This action seeks to stop the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s policy, pattern, and practice of unlawfully terminating hundreds of grants issued to nonprofit organizations, farmers, ranchers, universities, cities, and states. Defendants’ policy, pattern, and practice has undercut efforts to strengthen rural and agricultural communities, address food security in low-income communities, support beginning farmers, empower urban communities to address climate and heat risks, and support the production and marketing of climate-smart commodities.
The Trump administration agreed to restore climate-related information to government websites, many of which farmers rely on to adapt to increasingly extreme weather.
The Trump administration will restore access to vital resources for climate-smart agriculture, forest conservation, climate change adaptation, and rural clean energy projects
The parties write respectfully to inform the Court that United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will restore the climate-change-related web content that was removed post-inauguration, including all USDA webpages and interactive tools enumerated in Plaintiffs’ Complaint.
Jeffrey Stein, Attorney, Sustainable Food & Farming Program: “We’re glad that U.S.D.A. recognized that its blatantly unlawful purge of climate-change-related information is harming farmers and communities across the country.”
Peter Lehner, Managing Attorney, Sustainable Food & Farming Program: “The sad recognition is that if we don’t address agriculture, even if we are successful in decarbonizing the rest of the economy, we will almost certainly exceed any quasi-safe target level.”
The government reneged on its promise to provide federal grant money to fund climate projects. We’re suing on behalf of grant recipients who have been harmed.
Plaintiffs respectfully request that the Court grant a preliminary injunction ordering restoration of all webpages that were removed pursuant to USDA’s January 30, 2025, directive and enjoining USDA from removing or substantially modifying additional webpages pursuant to that directive.
Earthjustice, on behalf of nonprofits and small farmers, sued the Trump administration for unlawfully withholding grant funds appropriated by Congress through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Earthjustice filed a lawsuit against Trump’s USDA, asking a court to restore access to climate-related information on government websites and prohibit further purging.
Laura Beth Resnick of Butterbee Farm and Hana Vizcarra, attorney at Earthjustice, explain how Americans are stuck with the bill when the federal government reneges on its Inflation Reduction Act commitments.
Farmers have been stripped of vital digital resources due to the Trump Administration’s climate webpage purge; Motion seeks to restore access and prevent additional webpage removals
Behind every bite of salad in the break room, every fruit in a lunch box, every meal at dinner, lies the hand of a farmworker — drenched in pesticides, soaked in sweat, and now, likely facing the risk of deportation.
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Environmental Working Group request that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York grant a preliminary injunction ordering restoration of all webpages that were removed pursuant to United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) January 30, 2025, directive and enjoining USDA from removing or substantially modifying additional webpages pursuant to that directive.
