Category: Legislative Updates

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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Further NRCS Personnel Cuts Proposed in Administration’s FY 2026 Budget

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by LICA-National

A Supreme Court decision last week said President Trump has the authority to cut the size and scope of the federal government allowing planned reductions in force to resume. In addition to those efforts, the administration’s 2026 budget request details how many employees the executive branch intends to cut in the coming year. It proposes a government wide 5 percent reduction in employees compared to the final year of the Biden administration.


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Rescissions Bill Expected to Pass

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by LICA-National

Senate Republicans voted early Thursday morning to approve a rescissions package of $9 billion in spending cuts from previously approved funding. The House followed suit Friday and adopt the legislation giving the President another big legislative victory in less than a month. GOP Senate leaders quelled a revolt from members of the powerful Appropriations Committee who were concerned by the cuts. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) hailed the bill as a key piece of Trump’s legislative agenda and an important “down payment” on reducing the size of the federal government.


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July 4 Deadline for Reconciliation Uncertain

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by LICA-National

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is sticking to his ambitious schedule of getting the reconciliation legislation to President Trump’s desk by July 4, even as he faces objections from GOP colleagues and the Senate parliamentarian to key provisions in the bill. Thune is continuing his effort pushing to get the budget reconciliation bill on the floor by the weekend. Republican senators are racing to work out their disagreements over Medicaid, renewable energy tax breaks, state and local tax deductions and a host of other provisions before the bill comes to the Senate floor. Once approved by the Senate, the House must also approve it or send it back with amendments to the Senate.


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OBBB Criticized as Benefiting Large Farmers at Expense of Small Ones

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by LICA-National

The “big, beautiful” reconciliation bill would overwhelmingly benefit large farms at the expense of small ones, some farm program critics told reporters on Wednesday, as reported by Agri Pulse. “This legislation that the ag committees have produced is clear "fiscal malpractice” said Josh Sewell of Taxpayers for Common Sense. Sewell was joined on the call by consultant Ferd Hoefner, formerly of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and the Environmental Working Group’s Scott Faber.


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ICE Enforcement of Farms/Construction Sites to Continue

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by LICA-National

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will continue to conduct inspections of ag operations and other workplaces, including construction sites, but will focus on criminal activity, White House border czar Tom Homan announced. After days of confusion over whether President Donald Trump had carved out an exception for farms and hospitality operations including hotels and restaurants, Homan told reporters, “The message is clear enough that we're going to continue doing worksite enforcement operations even on farms and hotels.” The ag industry has voiced concern about worksite raids at farm operations and construction sites. Part of that concern derives from ICE arresting workers beyond those for whom they have warrants.


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States Weigh-in On DOT DBE Program Future

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by LICA-National

A coalition of 21 state attorneys general and the Arizona state legislature urged a Kentucky federal court to approve a proposal from the U.S. Department of Transportation that would end core provisions of its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, reports the American Road and Transportation Builders Assn (ARTBA). In the amicus brief filed June 16, the Republican state officials expressed support for a recent “consent order” in which the department has agreed to stop enforcing race- and gender-based goals on federal-aid projects, pending court approval.


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Senate Continues Reconciliation Negotiations

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by LICA-National

Senators have been meeting all week in an attempt to find common ground on a reconciliation package that will implement much of President Trump’s domestic policy agenda. It is still very unclear what the Senate’s reconciliation bill will look like. Punch news reports that Senate Republicans are looking to rewrite two of the hardest-fought provisions in the House’s bill. Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) told GOP senators Wednesday that he plans to scale back the House’s deal raising the cap on the amount of state and local taxes (SALT) that can be deducted and to rework the House repeal of clean energy tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Once completed, the Senate bill must go back to the House for its adoption. Having passed its version of the legislation on a 215-214 vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson has little wiggle room in his quest to get the reconciliation bill done by July 4.


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Immigration Raids Rattle Ag industry

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by LICA-National

Raids by federal immigration agents targeting field workers in California and a meat processing plant in Nebraska have some producers on edge, lawmakers said at a House Ag Committee hearing Wednesday. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., cited a statement by the Ventura County Farm Bureau that said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had engaged in illegal racial profiling in raids in his district. In addition to the action in California, ICE raided a meatpacking plant in Omaha. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said the raid involved “stolen identities.”


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