President Trump Announces $12 Billion Aid Package for American Farmers Impacted by Trade Disruptions
The package delivers one-time bridge payments through the new Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
President Trump unveiled a $12 billion assistance package for U.S. farmers on December 8, 2025, during a White House roundtable with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, lawmakers from farm states, and representatives from Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas.
The package delivers one-time bridge payments through the new Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Of the total, $11 billion targets row crop producers growing commodities such as corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, cotton, sorghum, and potatoes, which have faced market losses from trade disputes, particularly with China, and elevated input costs like fertilizer and machinery following four years of prior administration policies.
An additional $1 billion supports farmers of specialty crops not included in the FBA program, with distribution details forthcoming.
Funded by revenue from tariffs, the aid aims to stabilize operations as farmers market this year's harvest and prepare for 2026 planting. It bridges to longer-term relief under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which raises reference prices 10-21% for major crops effective October 1, 2026.
President Trump stated: "$12 billion is a lot of money," emphasizing the package's role in providing certainty. Secretary Rollins added that payments will issue by February 28, 2026, urging eligible farmers to submit accurate 2025 acreage reports by 5 p.m. ET on December 19, 2025.
Secretary Bessent noted China's use of U.S. soybean farmers as leverage in negotiations, where exports have lagged promises—2.8 million metric tons delivered by late 2025 against a 12 million metric ton goal, though officials project fulfillment by February.
The initiative echoes prior supports during President Trump's first term, totaling over $22 billion in 2019 and nearly $46 billion in 2020, amid similar trade tensions. Soybeans, with over half exported mainly to China, represent the hardest hit sector, comprising roughly the value of 2024 U.S. soybean sales to China and half of total farm exports there.
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