Summary:

• It’s a busy few weeks for agriculture policy in Congress! The House Appropriations Committee will be releasing the FY27 Agriculture Appropriations bill this week, with a full committee markup scheduled for April 28. Check back here for IFAI’s appropriations analysis in the coming weeks!
• The House also announced a likely vote on the 2026 House Farm Bill in the last week of April. IFAI will publish analyses of proposed amendments and track key votes.
• This week, IFAI will be reporting on five Congressional hearings, including several on the FY27 Agriculture budget, the Nomination of Glenn Smith as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development , and a hearing on Tribal Natural Resources Development: Barriers and Successes.  

General Ag Policy Updates:

• The House Committee on Rules announced that the House may consider the House version of the Farm Bill, R.7567, during the week of April 27. Member amendments must be submitted by noon on Wednesday, April. 22. Check out IFAI’s take on this announcement.
• The House Appropriations Committee will be marking up the FY27 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration appropriations bill on April 28. Stay tuned for IFAI’s analysis!
• USDA launched the new Office of Seafood last week. This office will be responsible for coordinating USDA resources for fisheries and for increasing domestic consumption of seafood.

Recent IFAI Policy Analysis:

• IFAI published an analysis of President’s Budget Request for the Fiscal Year 2027, which begins on Oct. 1. The Budget, which outlines the President’s priorities but is non-binding, proposes significant cuts to USDA’s programming amidst a controversial reorganization plan and large-scale staff departures over the past year. It includes a 19 percent cut to USDA discretionary funding and would eliminate important programs for Tribes, producers, and rural communities. Read more here.

Outreach Calendar:

General Policy Update:

Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings: 

Title of Event: FDPIR Produce Safety Training

About: This is a 2-day in-person training designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities for FDPIR program operators and staff who are receiving, handling, and storing fresh produce. The training helps Tribes and State agencies properly assess and safely distribute fresh produce to program participants.

Date(s), Time, and Location:

• • May 19 – 20, 2026 at Spirit Lake Tribe: REGISTER
  • June 2026 (alongside the NAFDPIR Annual Conference in Niagara Falls, NY): REGISTER

Congressional Updates: 

Looking Back:

Hearing: House Appropriations Committee on Thurs. Apr. 16, 2026.
Topic: Budget Hearing – Department of Agriculture
Highlights: The hearing reviewed the Administration’s proposed FY 2027 budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including significant reductions in discretionary funding and planned shifts in program priorities. Members discussed how the proposal could affect agricultural producers, food prices, nutrition assistance, and agency capacity, with attention to balancing fiscal constraints and service delivery.
Read more HERE.

Hearing: House Appropriations Committee on Thurs. Apr. 16, 2026.
Topic: Budget Hearing – United States Forest Service
Highlights: The hearing examined the Administration’s FY 2027 U.S. Forest Service budget, focusing on wildfire preparedness, proposed agency reorganization, and a shift toward active forest management amid fiscal constraints. Members raised questions about the impacts of proposed funding reductions and structural changes on research capacity, state partnerships, and long‑term forest health while acknowledging growing wildfire risks nationwide.
Read more HERE.

Hearing: House Budget Committee on Wed. Apr. 15, 2026, at 10:15 a.m. ET
Topic: The President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request
Highlights: There were no mentions of Tribal related matters.

Hearing: Senate Budget Committee on Thurs. Apr. 16, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET
Topic: The President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Proposal
Highlights: There were no mentions of Tribal related matters.

Looking Ahead:

Hearing: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on Mon. Apr. 20,2026 at 5:30 p.m. EST
Topic: Business meeting to consider the nomination of Glen Smith, of IA, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development.

Hearing: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies on Mon. Apr. 20, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. EST
Topic: Rescheduled Budget Hearing.

Hearing: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Tues. Apr. 21, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. EST
Topic: Full Committee Hearing to Examine the President’s Budget Request for the Department of Energy for Fiscal Year 2027.

Hearing: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs on Wed. Apr. 22, 2026, at 10:15 a.m. EST
Topic: Tribal Natural Resources Development: Barriers and Successes

Hearing: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies on Wed. Apr. 22, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. EST
Topic: A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request for the Department of Agriculture.

Nominations:

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Consultative Committee (NCC)

Description: This committee advises the Secretaries of Commerce and State on issues relevant to the work of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) convention. NAFO is an international fisheries management body focused on coordinating international scientific studies of key marine species in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. NCC seeks nominations from committee members with fishing and/or seafood processing industry experience, marine/fisheries conservation and management experience, and more.

Deadline: Nominations for the committee will be accepted at any time.

Regulatory/Rule Making Actions:

Title: Removing Outdated and Unnecessary Provisions

• USDA’s Office of the Secretary (OSEC) has published a final rule removing certain provisions deemed by the Administration to be obsolete, unnecessary, and outdated from Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR).
• After regulatory planning and review were conducted, no federalism or tribal implications were identified in the rescissions.
• Some of the subjects in 7 CFR Part 15f include Agriculture, Farmers, Guaranteed Loans, and Loan Programs.
• The final rule took effect on Apr. 17, 2026

Posted: Week of Apr. 20, 2026
Read more HERE

Title: General Provisions

• The Farm Credit Administration (FCA) revised its business planning requirements related to diversity and inclusion.
• Specifically, FCA will no longer require 1) institution business plans to assess diversity as a need of the board of directors, 2) institution human capital plans to include strategies and actions to strive for diversity and inclusion within their workforce and management, and 3) institutions, in their marketing plans’ strategies and actions to market their products and services to all eligible and creditworthy persons, to have specific outreach toward diversity and inclusion.
• This final rule was effective as of Mar. 23, 2026.

Posted: Week of Apr. 6, 2026
Read more HERE

Title: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

• USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is requesting comments for a study on Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Tribal Organization and U.S. Territories.
• This study will inform FNS about WIC variation operations among Tribal Organizations, U.S. territories, and geographic States that administer the program.
• Knowledge gaps about unique administrative issues and the high cost of operations in Tribal Organizations and U.S. territories will be examined.
• Comments must be received by May 6, 2026

Posted: Week of Apr. 6, 2026
Read more HERE

Title: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

• USDA is finalizing the Interim Final Rule (IFR) published in July 2025 that rewrote its NEPA framework after the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) rescinded its NEPA regulations.
• Removes certain rules from the regulations, creates a new USDA-specific NEPA framework, and aligns with recent executive orders.
• This final rule is effective Apr. 3, 2026.

Posted: Week of Apr. 6, 2026
Read more HERE

Title: Revising Establishment Size Definitions

• USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking revising how the Agency defines establishment size for its oversight of meat and poultry establishments and egg products plants.
• Since 1996, the Agency has used Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) size categories based on employee count and annual sales; for example, a “very small” establishment has fewer than 10 employees or annual sales under $2.5 million.
• The National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) provided feedback in September 2024, noting that current definitions group together businesses that operate at very different scales.
• Comments must be submitted by May 26, 2026.

Posted: Week of Apr. 6, 2026
Read more HERE.