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White House plans to veto House bill that funds USDA, FDA

The White House says it will veto an appropriations bill that cuts USDA and Food and Drug Administration funding for fiscal year 2024. 

In a statement, the Office of Management and Budget, it says the Biden administration strongly opposes the $25.3 million bill because it consists of “draconian cuts” to climate change, clean energy programs and nutrition services. 

The OMB says the bill would eliminate over $2 billion in assistance to distressed farm loan borrows who have faced discrimination, cut $500 million for the Rural Energy for America Program that assist producers and rural small businesses convert to renewable energy, and impact other nutrition programs. 

The statement also says it would eliminate $1 billion from the New Empowering Rural America Program, which helps rural Americans transition to clean, affordable and reliable energy.

The OMB says climate hub and climate change research at USDA facilities would be eliminated along with the Packers and Stockyards Act.