The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has agreed to restore climate-related content on its websites following a lawsuit filed by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Environmental Working Group. These groups, represented by Earthjustice and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, argued that the removal of content violated public access to government information. The webpages, removed after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, included information on climate-smart farming, conservation, rural clean energy projects, and relevant federal loans. The deletions came amid broader administration efforts to halt climate-related agricultural funding, some of which was established by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. 

The USDA has committed to restoring the removed content within two weeks. On May 13, some webpages highlighting clean energy projects funded by the IRA were already reinstated. Earthjustice, representing the plaintiffs, expressed commitment to ensuring USDA fulfills its restoration promise, emphasizing farmers’ reliance on these resources to address climate impacts. 

This legal victory underscores the importance of maintaining access to scientific data and resources that support farmers in adapting to climate change. Advocates acknowledge that substantial work remains to support U.S. farmers amid the climate crisis.

Source: Carbon Brief