A freeze on federal loans and grants is creating turmoil for some rural U.S. business owners who fear they won't get reimbursed for new, cleaner irrigation equipment or solar panels they purchased with the promise of a rebate.
USDA leaders “have been directed to assess whether grants, loans, contracts, and other disbursements align with the new administration’s policies,” according to a statement from a department spokesperson who noted that Brooke Rollins, USDA secretary nominee, “will have the opportunity to review the programs and work with the White House to make determinations as quickly as possible,” once she's confirmed.
“Farmers and small business owners throughout Appalachia and rural America are struggling to stay afloat,” said Chelsea Barnes, director of government affairs and strategy at Appalachian Voices, a nonprofit focused on sustainability.
Rather than solar power or energy efficiency, Trump has spoken often about his support for oil and gas, erasing environmental and climate policies created under the Biden administration.
Russell Vought, the newly-confirmed White House budget director, co-authored the conservative agenda for Trump’s second term, Project 2025, which criticized renewables like wind and solar and encouraged more oil and gas usage.
