Following a lawsuit from farmers, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to restore climate-related information that was removed from its websites shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration earlier this year.
In a letter filed last night by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the USDA, the agency stated it will reinstate all climate-change-related web content that was taken down after the inauguration. This includes USDA webpages and interactive tools specified in the lawsuit. The restoration process is reportedly already in progress and is expected to be largely completed within two weeks.
Should the administration follow through with this commitment, it would mark a significant win for farmers and others who depend on the critical scientific data that has been absent from federal platforms since January.
“We’re ecstatic.”
Marcie Craig, the executive director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, expressed her relief: “I’ll be frank, it feels good to win one, right? Farmers have been significantly affected by the actions of this administration. It’s reassuring to say that these resources are coming back. We’re ecstatic.”
The suit was initiated in February in collaboration with two environmental organizations, claiming that the removal of vital information jeopardized the livelihoods of organic farmers. This data was essential for making informed decisions regarding crop planting and land management, especially in the face of increasing climate unpredictability.
One notable loss was the “Climate Risk Viewer,” an online tool that provided insights into the effects of climate change on rivers and watersheds, crucial for understanding potential future water supply challenges.
Jeffrey Stein, an associate attorney with the nonprofit legal group Earthjustice, which represented the plaintiffs, stated, “We’re very pleased that the USDA acknowledged that this unjustified removal of information is causing real harm to farmers and researchers nationwide. We are committed to making sure the USDA fulfills this promise.”
The initial lawsuit accused the USDA of violating several laws, including the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which grants public access to government records, as well as the Paperwork Reduction Act and the Administrative Procedure Act, which regulate how federal agencies implement changes to information access.
Additionally, the Trump administration’s support for fossil fuel industries has led to cuts in federal funding for climate-related programs, further straining resources for farmers. Craig highlighted that her association lost nearly half of its budget due to funding freezes this year and has been relying on donations to make up for the shortfall.
“This has been one of many cuts. It feels like a painful experience of a thousand cuts,” Craig remarked. “This legal victory is encouraging. However, even with this triumph, we still have a lot of work ahead of us.”
