{"id":657,"date":"2026-06-24T16:13:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T16:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbaneconomynews.com\/?p=657"},"modified":"2026-06-24T16:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T16:13:10","slug":"doj-finds-usda-preferences-for-socially-disadvantaged-farmers-are-discriminatory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbaneconomynews.com\/?p=657","title":{"rendered":"DOJ Finds USDA Preferences for \u2018Socially Disadvantaged\u2019 Farmers Are Discriminatory"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>The Department of Justice (DOJ) has concluded that the U.S. Agriculture Department\u2019s (USDA) favors for \u201csocially disadvantaged\u201d groups unconstitutionally discriminate based on race and sex.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/urbaneconomynews.com\/?p=655\">DOJ Announces 455 Defendants Charged in $6.5 Billion Health Care Fraud Crackdown<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Just the News reports that the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) has determined conservation\u2011planning programs that authorized USDA to waive user fees for \u201csocially disadvantaged\u201d farmers as defined by race\u2011 and sex\u2011based criteria, violated the Constitution\u2019s equal-protection guarantee.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\ud83d\udd25Hot off the presses: @TheJusticeDept explains that the @USDA cannot give benefits only to certain \u201csocially disadvantaged\u201d groups. But there\u2019s more to this one than you may pick up at first glance \ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/3otuh4FWwl<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Eric W. (@EWess92) June 23, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\nThe DOJ defines \u201csocially disadvantaged\u201d farmers as any \u201cwhose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice,\u201d including women and African American, Hispanic, and Asian people.<\/p>\n<p>The agency found that billions of dollars distributed in fiscal 2025 illegally favored non-Caucasians. Of 36 programs reviewed, the DOJ declared that most were unlawful, and that the USDA must provide assistance via \u201cconstitutionally permissible means.\u201d Five programs, which can be \u201cadministered in a race- and sex-neutral manner,\u201d will be retained.<\/p>\n<p>In a Monday press release, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said, \u201cRacial discrimination is illegal, and the government cannot show preference to certain groups when awarding special benefits without a compelling reason to justify the classification.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/urbaneconomynews.com\/?p=653\">Judge Strikes Down Trump-Era Courthouse Arrest Policy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Blanche added, \u201cThis Department of Justice is committed to ending illegal DEI initiatives across the federal government that violate our Constitution and laws.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins affirmed, \u201cAll persons served by this Department will, without question, be treated equally.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rollins said, \u201cToday\u2019s opinion affirms discrimination based on race and sex is unconstitutional and no program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including those in the Farm Production and Conservation mission area, will act otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The USDA may continue to provide technical assistance, financial support, and outreach to farmers and ranchers through constitutionally permissible means.<\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration has spearheaded a DEI crackdown across federal agencies and education.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/urbaneconomynews.com\/?p=651\">Morning Greatness: Trump Admin Announces $17.5B in Loans for 10 New Large Nuclear Reactors<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Department of Justice (DOJ) has concluded that the U.S. Agriculture Department\u2019s (USDA) favors for \u201csocially disadvantaged\u201d groups unconstitutionally\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agriculture"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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