Category: Legislative Updates

Agriculture Reorganization Plan Gets Pushback

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by LICA-National

Union locals representing USDA employees are calling on the Trump administration to release a cost-benefit analysis behind the department’s reorganization plan. The plan calls for USDA to relocate thousands of staff from Washington, D.C., to five regional hubs: Raleigh, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Fort Collins, and Salt Lake City. State and local USDA offices would also be consolidated into these regional hubs. Agri-Pulse reports that, in a letter to Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins, the unions are seeking the rationale behind choosing the five hubs where employees are being consolidated.


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Agriculture and Transportation FY 2026 Funding Bills Move Forward – Government Shutdown Possible

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by LICA-National

Congress will return from its summer recess and attempt to complete action on the FY 2026 federal budget having thus far taken limited action on the 12 annual appropriations bills. Although some appropriations bills have advanced earlier than in recent years significant differences in funding levels threatens the possibility of a government shutdown. The October 1 start of the new fiscal year looms large, raising the possibility that a short-term continuing resolution (CR) will again be needed to keep the government operating.


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US DOT Proposes Revised Drone “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” Regulations

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by LICA-National

The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed revised regulations to implement President Trump’s Executive Order entitled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance.” The proposal would adjust the “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” (BVLOS) limits to aid in the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones into the national airspace system. The proposal would also update requirements for manufacturers, operators, and drone traffic-management services to keep BVLOS drones safely separated from each other and from manned aircraft.


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Senate Ag Committee Examines USDA Reorganization Proposal

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by LICA-National

The Senate Agriculture Committee held a quickly scheduled hearing last week to examine the Trump Administration’s proposal to reorganize the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The plan calls for USDA to relocate thousands of staff from Washington, D.C., to five regional hubs: Raleigh, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Fort Collins, and Salt Lake City. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden defended the move as a cost-saving measure aimed at bringing USDA employees closer to rural communities and reducing reliance on underused federal buildings. He cited potential savings of up to $4 billion and emphasized that many USDA employees already work remotely. However, senators expressed frustration over the lack of prior consultation with Congress, prompting Committee Chair Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) to call the hearing on short notice.


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Administration Issues Guidance To States on DEI Compliance

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by LICA-National

The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a directive on July 29, 2025, clarifying how federal antidiscrimination laws apply to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, particularly for recipients of federal funding. The guidance asserts that any program or policy—regardless of its stated goals or labels—must comply with federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, or other protected characteristics. The memo builds on prior executive orders and emphasizes that entities receiving federal funds, including educational institutions, government contractors, and nonprofits, may face enforcement actions or loss of funding if they engage in practices deemed discriminatory.


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Trump Administration Unveils USDA Reorganization Focused on Streamlining and Decentralization- NRCS Impacted

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by LICA-National

On July 24, 2025, Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announced a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of the broader Trump “government efficiency” agenda. The plan would relocate over 2,600 of the roughly 4,600 Washington, D.C.–area employees to five new regional hubs—Raleigh, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Fort Collins, and Salt Lake City—while retaining only about 2,000 staff in the capital. USDA will close multiple D.C. buildings, including the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, and consolidate programs like the National Agricultural Statistics Service from 12 offices to five, with the goal of reducing operating costs and lowering salary locality pay rates.


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House and Senate Continue Hearings on Highway Bill Reauthorization – Truckers Call for Registration Fee to Replace Gas Tax

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by LICA-National

With the expiration date for the current surface transportation legislation just over a year away, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee conducted the latest in a series of hearings to identify issues that need to be addressed when drafting the reauthorization proposal. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Administration will be submitting a formal proposal of its policy recommendations but broadly outlined the Trump administration plans for freight connectivity improvements, highway safety projects and regulatory changes to speed up project delivery. Investments in traditional infrastructure projects to improve the supply chain and a focus on streamlining the environmental permitting process are atop the priorities that will be included.


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Indiana to Seek Authority to Toll Interstate

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by LICA-National

Indiana lawmakers voted to seek federal authority to become the first state to charge tolls on interstate highways, a move taken over the objections of state truckers. The so-called road funding bill, signed in May by Gov. Mike Braun, contains a tolling clause along with sections addressing bridges, low water crossings, transportation infrastructure bonds, a railroad tax credit, and a wheel and excise surtax.


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Agencies Move to Implement NEPA Reform to Accelerate Infrastructure Delivery

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by LICA-National

In early 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order rescinding all National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing regulations and instructed federal agencies to issue new procedures prioritizing “efficiency and certainty” in environmental reviews. The NEPA process has long been a procedural burden significantly slowing down the delivery of vital infrastructure improvements. Under this EO, agencies such as Departments of Energy, Defense, Agriculture, Transportation, and Interior began rapid revision of their agency‐specific NEPA procedures to streamline permitting timelines, remove duplicative analyses, and reduce administrative burdens. The Trump Administration’s NEPA initiative represents a decisive shift toward compressing environmental reviews for federal construction and energy projects.


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Reconciliation Provisions Impacting LICA Members

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by LICA-National

Following Senate and House approval of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” the President signed the measure in a White House ceremony on July 4th. The legislation implements the President’s domestic policy priorities by extending and enhancing the 2017 tax cuts, increases initiatives to enhance border security, increases investments in defense programs and targets reductions in other Federal programs.


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