The U.S. Federal Government expects to spend $280,000,000,000.00 on Department of Agriculture in 2025. This represents 4% of all Federal spending in 2025.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. Established in 1862, the USDA aims to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers, promote agricultural trade and production, ensure food safety, protect natural resources, foster rural communities, and work to end hunger in the United States and internationally. The department operates through various agencies and offices, each specializing in different aspects of agriculture and rural development.
The USDA is funded through both mandatory and discretionary spending. Mandatory funding supports programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and agricultural subsidies, financed by general revenue. Discretionary appropriations fund areas like rural development, food safety, and agricultural research. The USDA also collects revenue through fees for services like food inspections and conservation programs.
For Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, the USDA had total budgetary resources amounting to approximately $327.51 billion, distributed among its 22 sub-components. Agencies spend available budgetary resources by making financial promises called obligations. The total budgetary resources are broken out by agency sub-component, reflecting how much funding has been obligated for the fiscal year.
There have been numerous reported examples of wasteful spending at Department of Agriculture. See below for some of the most recent reported cases.
