Ministry of Agriculture announces cuts of millions of dollars, including $23,000 in Brazilian Forest and Gender Advisor
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Friday that the department has terminated nearly 80 contracts, including Brazilian forest and gender consultants and Central American gender assessment consultants.
Rollins said the Biden administration’s total of more than $132 million in 78 contracts under the Biden administration, while more than 1,000 potentially terminated contracts are still under review.
The findings follow a review of the government’s efficiency division led by Elon Musk, who said it will help the Department of Agriculture stop wasting spending.
“I welcome Doge’s efforts on USDA because we know it’s working to make us better, stronger, faster, and more efficient. I hope to be fully accessible in the coming days and weeks,” Rollins said. and transparency.”
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Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins spoke to members of the press outside the White House in Washington, D.C. on February 14, 2025. (Getty Image)
The $132 million termination contract includes $374,000 in diversity, fairness and inclusion of experts, $254,000 in diversity dialogue workshops, $298,000 in international development for historically inadequate communities, Brazilian Forest and Gender Advisor’s Initiative Guidance Program and $29,000 for Gender Assessment Advisor in Central America.
Rollins previously issued a memorandum to formally revoke all diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs, but instead focus on unity, equality and elite management.
Now, the Ministry of Agriculture has canceled the training of 948 employees, of which 758 are focused only on DEI. Other cancelled trainings cover topics including environmental justice and gender ideology.
Brooke Rollins spoke to media members outside the White House in Washington, D.C. on Friday, February 14, 2025. (Getty Image)
Another termination contract is “Africa, the Middle East and Latin America and the Caribbean for training, education and access to professional and economic opportunities for women and increasing their participation in climate change adaptation activities”, totaling $91,000.
There is also a nearby electric vehicle utility van for $33,000, and a Hawaiian conference room with a 100-person Department of Agriculture Biodiversity Conference for $11,000.
The Ministry of Agriculture also cut $277 million in media contracts, including a subscription to Politico Pro, a news and information service that provides resources such as tracking legislation. Politico said the vast majority of subscribers to Politico Pro are in the private sector.
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On December 18, 2022, the Department of Agriculture was seen at the U.S. Department of Agriculture entrance in Washington, DC. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency)
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Federal agencies and lawmakers, including Republicans in Congress, have subscribed to Politico Pro, but the White House recently announced that the administration will cancel subscriptions to some news organizations as part of a plan to reduce government spending.
Rollins said the Department of Agriculture is also trying to optimize its workforce by eliminating positions that are no longer needed, requiring its workers to return to offices and relocate employees to the heart of the country.
