Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I want to welcome the Secretary to our Committee hearing today. We have a lot to cover – and thank you for being here.

Doing right by our family farmers often requires working across the aisle. That’s been a trademark of this Committee over time. And that’s how successful farm bills usually function.

Traditionally, USDA has reflected that commitment as well. By supporting our family farmers as they grow food that feeds our country and the world, ensuring our food is safe to eat, stopping the spread of animal-borne disease and innovating the future of food and agriculture.

However, I am genuinely concerned that under this administration, agricultural policymaking has become much more partisan and polarized. This reckless push to cut nearly $300 billion in funding to a title of the farm bill – instead of prioritizing getting a full 12-title, 5-year farm bill across the finish line – is of particular concern. And has put a bipartisan farm bill in jeopardy.

In addition, DOGE has been given essentially a free pass to damage program integrity and undermine the USDA’s ability to carry out its core functions and provide key services that America’s farmers rely on. Your agency has fired and then had to rehire agency employees because of uninformed and reckless decisions over the course of the past few months.

Our trade deficit is increasing. Retaliatory tariffs are coming. Countries are already moving to buy commodities from other nations instead of American farmers. Input costs are stubbornly high. The bird flu remains a concern. Food banks have been defunded. Billions of dollars in farm programs remain frozen. School cafeterias have been cut off from sourcing locally grown food. Food safety and animal health experts have been fired or forced out. Nutrition assistance programs are being decimated. The farm bill is in jeopardy. The USDA inspector general, who rooted out fraud, waste and abuse, was fired. The MAHA Commission is issuing reports with made-up science and fake citations without talking to family farmers.

I grew up in farm country. My grandfather was a farm foreman. And I now have the honor of representing corn, soybean, pork and turkey producers, among others, in Minnesota’s 2^nd District. They’re tough people; they want markets, not farm income from more government handouts because their government’s policies are hurting their farms.

So yes – we have a lot we want to talk to you about today. Thank you for being here.

I yield back.