Farmers and environmental groups are suing the Trump administration for removing critical climate-related data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) websites.
The lawsuit claims the USDA unlawfully took down policies, guides, datasets, and resources related to climate change without giving prior notice, as required by law. It argues the department did not follow proper procedures when making the changes and failed to meet its legal responsibility to share certain information with the public.
The groups involved in the lawsuit include the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, Earthjustice, the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, and several organizations such as Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Environmental Working Group.
The plaintiffs say the USDA’s actions have removed critical information about climate-smart farming, forest conservation, climate change adaptation, and investments in clean energy projects in rural areas.
Anne Schechinger, Midwest Director for the Environmental Working Group, criticized the USDA’s decision, saying, “By wiping critical climate resources from the USDA’s website, the Trump administration has deliberately stripped farmers and ranchers of the vital tools they need to confront the escalating extreme weather threats like droughts and floods.”
“This lawsuit isn’t just about transparency — it’s about holding those in power accountable for undermining the very information that helps protect the livelihoods of food producers, the food system, and our future,” Schechinger added.
Stephanie Krent, a staff attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute, said the USDA’s actions affect not only farmers but the economy as a whole.
“USDA’s policies influence everything from the shape of our economy to the food we eat. Farmers, researchers, and advocates rely on USDA data to make important decisions about their work,” Krent explained.
She also emphasized that the public has a right to know how the USDA is carrying out its work and priorities, especially with the removal of webpages that once provided this vital information.
