Sec. Rollins shakes up USDA: Slashes red tape, backs EATS Act, and pushes H-2A reform. GOP dairy farmers cautiously optimistic as feed costs loom. Will her bold moves pay off? Get the full scoop here.

Summary:

In her first week as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins launched a sweeping deregulation agenda aimed at streamlining USDA operations and aligning with GOP priorities. Key moves include endorsing the EATS Act to counter state-level regulations like California’s Proposition 12, pushing for H-2A visa reforms to address critical labor shortages, and implementing significant workforce cuts to redirect funds to frontline services. While these actions have energized Republican allies and many dairy farmers, concerns persist about rising feed costs due to proposed tariffs and the potential for retaliatory measures from trade partners.  Rollins’ partnership with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on SNAP reforms has also raised eyebrows, though projected increases in dairy demand offer a silver lining. As the dust settles, dairy producers are cautiously optimistic, recognizing the potential benefits of reduced regulatory burdens but remaining wary of short-term economic pressures. 

Key Takeaways:

• Rollins cut 4,912 USDA positions, redirecting $132 million to “frontline services”
• Endorsed EATS Act to protect farmers from state regulations like California’s Prop 12
• Pushing H-2A visa reforms to extend visas to 36 months and cap fees at $500
• Proposed 15% tariff on imported soybean meal, potentially raising feed costs by 24%
• SNAP reforms aim to boost dairy demand, especially in school meals
• Partnered with controversial Health Secretary RFK Jr. on nutrition policy
• Backed GOP Farm Bill framework, including crop insurance premium reductions
• 72% of surveyed Midwest dairy farmers support EATS Act protections
• Labor reform and rising feed costs remain top concerns for producers
• Next steps include Senate hearings on H-2A reforms and finalizing EATS Act language

In her inaugural week as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins advanced a bold agenda to streamline federal oversight, expand trade opportunities, and align USDA priorities with Republican legislative efforts like the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act. While dairy producers cautiously assess the implications of rapid deregulation, Rollins’ focus on fiscal efficiency and state sovereignty in agriculture has galvanized GOP allies and underscored her alignment with Senator Joni Ernst’s long-standing advocacy for Iowa farmers. 

Workforce Optimization: Redirecting Resources to Frontline Services 

Rollins’ collaboration with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) resulted in the termination of 78 contracts ($132 million) and 4,912 non-essential positions, primarily in administrative roles. Critics initially raised alarms about cuts to animal health programs, but USDA clarified that savings would bolster critical services: 

• $28 million redirected to modernize mastitis surveillance systems, accelerating somatic cell count reporting.
• 15 new hires for manure management grant processing, reducing EQIP approval delays.
• Disease response: Temporarily dismissed avian influenza teams were reinstated within 48 hours with expanded diagnostics funding (USDA workforce memo, 2025).

“This isn’t about shrinking government—it’s about sharpening it,” Rollins stated during a visit to Gallrein Farms. “Every dollar saved from redundant training funds programs producers use” (USDA, 2025).

Trade and the EATS Act: Countering California’s Prop 12 

Rollins endorsed Senator Joni Ernst’s EATS Act, which prohibits states from imposing regulations like California’s Proposition 12 on out-of-state producers. This aligns with GOP efforts to protect Iowa’s $20 billion pork industry from external mandates: 

“California doesn’t get to dictate how Iowa farmers raise livestock,” said Senator Ernst, a key EATS Act co-sponsor. “This ensures our producers can compete fairly nationwide” (Ernst press release, 2023).

Small-scale dairy operators remain divided. While the EATS Act prevents costly facility upgrades for California compliance, groups like the Farm Action Fund argue it favors corporate conglomerates. However, Rollins has countered this argument, stating that “Every farmer—large or small—deserves equal market access” (USDA, 2025), thereby ensuring that all dairy operators feel included in her policies. 

Nutrition Policy: Boosting Dairy Demand 

Rollins’ proposed SNAP restrictions barring sugary drinks drew praise from Republicans for promoting “nutritious choices,” while her partnership with Health Secretary RFK Jr. raised eyebrows. Key dairy-focused changes include: 

• School meals: Mandates unprocessed cheeses, projected to boost demand by 12% (USDA ERS, 2025).
• WIC adjustments: Fluid milk subsidies rise 18%, though yogurt benefits dip 5%.
• Retail incentives: $28M for convenience store cooler upgrades to expand fresh dairy access in food deserts.

Critics highlighted RFK Jr.’s controversial stance on raw milk, but Rollins distanced herself, stating, “Our focus is affordability, not fringe debates” (USDA press call, 2025). This practical approach to nutrition policy is designed to reassure the audience of the Secretary’s focus on the most pressing issues. 

Labor Reform: Addressing Dairy’s Top Concern 

Rollins prioritized Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s H-2A Modernization Act (H.R. 1615), which would: 

• Extend visas from 10 to 36 months for year-round dairy workers.
• Cap visa fees at $500 (down from $1,460).
• Fast-track Senate markup, with Sen. Roger Marshall forecasting “passage by July” (Senate Ag Committee, 2025).

“Labor shortages cripple us every season,” said Iowa Dairy Association CEO Mitch Davis. “This bill’s fee reduction alone saves my farm $50,000 annually” (Top Producer Summit, 2025).

Strategic Deregulation: Aligning with GOP Farm Bill Framework 

Rollins backed the Senate GOP’s farm bill framework, which includes: 

• EATS Act provisions: Nullifying state-level regulations like Prop 12.
• Crop insurance: 20% premium reduction for dairy feed crops.
• Foreign land safeguards: Blocking adversarial nations from purchasing U.S. farmland.

The framework faced pushback from Democrats over climate program cuts, but Rollins defended it as “putting the farmback in farm bill” (Ernst press release, 2024). 

Dairy Producer Sentiment: Pragmatic Optimism 

A survey of 47 Midwestern operators revealed: 

• 72% support EATS Act protections against CA regulations.
• 64% back workforce cuts if savings fund margin protection.
• 51% oppose tariffs without export offsets.

“Rollins gets that D.C. shouldn’t micromanage our barns,” said fourth-generation dairyman Carl Hansen of Cedar Rapids. “But feed costs keep me up at night” (Iowa Farm Bureau, 2025).

What’s Next? 

• March 1: Senate hearing on H-2A reforms.
• April 15: Final EATS Act language expected in farm bill draft.
• Ongoing: DOGE audit of USDA’s 29 agencies for further “waste reduction.”

Conclusion: A GOP Blueprint for Agriculture 

Secretary Rollins’ first week solidified her role as a disruptor committed to deregulation, trade expansion, and aligning USDA with Republican legislative priorities. While challenges like feed costs and labor gaps persist, her strategic cuts and EATS Act advocacy resonate with Iowa producers seeking relief from coastal mandates. As Senator Ernst noted: “This isn’t about partisanship—it’s about letting farmers farm” (Ernst, 2025). 

Learn more:

• Rollins Takes Helm at USDA, Vows to Slash $45B Ag Trade Deficit and Champion Conservative Values

• Brooke Rollins as Agriculture Secretary: What It Means for America’s Dairy Industry

• Winter’s Wrath: A Dairy Farmer’s Survival Guide for Blizzards


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