After Urging Action Last Month, Davids Responds to Trump Administration’s Farmer Relief Announcement

Today, Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) responded to President Donald Trump’s announcement of a relief package for farmers facing economic hardship caused by the administration’s reckless tariffs. Davids welcomed the step as overdue recognition of the urgent needs she raised with the President last month, while underscoring that Kansas farmers need long-term trade certainty — not temporary fixes.

“After hearing directly from Kansas farmers and ranchers about the economic challenges caused by the administration’s self-inflicted trade war, I urged the President to take immediate action. I welcome today’s announcement,” said Davids. “While relief can help farmers stay afloat today, it cannot replace the stable trade relationships they rely on. Our farmers deserve long-term certainty — not whiplash from economic policies that put their livelihoods at risk. I’m pushing for responsible solutions that restore market access, protect taxpayer dollars, and ensure our producers can keep doing what they do best: feeding Kansas, the country, and the world.”

Background:

Despite the administration’s new announcement, Kansas farmers and ranchers are facing deep economic strain from reckless tariff policies, which contributed to an estimated $27 billion in lost farm exports during the first Trump Administration. Rising input costs, high interest rates, and growing farm bankruptcies have only made things worse.

In her letter to the President last month, Davids emphasized that, while short-term support may now be necessary, Kansas producers consistently say they prefer “trade, not aid.” She renewed her call for the administration to work with Congress and agriculture stakeholders to rebuild trade stability, restore lost export markets, and address the long-term damage caused by the administration’s tariff policies.

Davids’ letter outlined three key requirements for any tariff relief program:

• Learn from past failures: The 2018–2019 ad hoc relief programs were riddled with inefficiencies and inequities, as documented by multiple Government Accountability Office reports. Any new plan must incorporate those lessons to avoid repeating those mistakes.
• Protect taxpayer dollars: Relief must include strong guardrails, transparency, and robust federal oversight to ensure funds are used appropriately and reach producers who truly need them.
• Support small and mid-sized farms: Assistance should be fair and equitable, not skewed toward the largest operations at the expense of family farms that form the backbone of Kansas agriculture.

Davids pledged to continue pressing for comprehensive solutions that address both immediate needs and the long-term health of rural communities.