Infectious Disease Threats Test Public Health as World Cup Kicks Off June 12, 2026 - Health officials in the United States are implementing emergency protocols to combat the New World screwworm while monitoring other infectious disease risks ahead of the World Cup and the America250 celebrations. The situation has sparked debates over the adequacy of federal funding for disease surveillance and outbreak response, with experts warning that proposed budget cuts could undermine preparedness for major events. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced during a roundtable with ranchers in Texas that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had activated an emergency plan to address potential human infestations of the New World screwworm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is leading efforts to manage animal infestations, having detected four cases in calves in Texas and one in a dog in New Mexico. Rollins attributed the resurgence of the threat to the Biden administration’s failure to prepare for the outbreak, which re-emerged in Panama in 2023 and spread northward. She emphasized that the USDA has allocated 120 full-time staff to the issue, a 1,000% increase from previous levels, and denied any connection to funding cuts tied to the DOGE program. However, Harvard Medical School professor Aaron Kesselheim argued that the DOGE cuts, which eliminated monitoring programs under the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the USDA, are "direct contributors to the current problem." He highlighted how these reductions have hampered the ability to respond to outbreaks and mitigate future impacts.#cdc #brooke_rollins #usda #new_world_screwworm #harvard_medical_school
HUD Rescinds FHA, USDA Energy Efficiency Rule for New Homes The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on Tuesday that it is rescinding a 2024 rule requiring new homes to meet 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) standards to qualify for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans. HUD Secretary Scott Turner made the announcement at HousingWire’s The Gathering event in Austin, emphasizing that the policy change aims to reduce construction costs and increase housing availability. The 2024 rule, introduced under the Biden administration, mandated that new residential construction projects comply with stricter energy efficiency standards outlined in the 2021 IECC. These standards aimed to lower long-term energy costs for homeowners but faced criticism for imposing significant upfront expenses on builders. Turner stated that the rule effectively added $20,000 to $31,000 in costs per single-family home, making it difficult for developers to justify new projects. The rescinded policy will initially apply to new construction, with FHA and USDA loan programs reverting to the energy efficiency standards in place before the 2024 rule was implemented. Turner argued that the Biden-era regulation created an artificial barrier to housing production, as the payback period for energy savings could span decades. He noted that while proponents claimed upfront costs would be offset over time, the average home price in some regions—ranging from $300,000 to $400,000—made the financial burden impractical for many builders. Turner highlighted a recent ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, which found that the Biden-era standard would reduce housing availability.#brooke_rollins #hud #scott_turner #housingwire #the_gathering
USDA Boosts Payments Under SDRP as Rollins Signals Fertilizer Investment Push Farmers affected by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 who submitted claims under the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) will receive a second payment starting next week, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The announcement was made during a roundtable event with Missouri farmers east of Kansas City, where Rollins emphasized the importance of the additional aid for producers seeking operating loans this spring. The SDRP, which was established after Congress allocated over $20 billion in disaster relief for weather-related losses in 2023 and 2024, will now provide farmers with double the initial aid. USDA has already disbursed $6.7 billion under the program, and the new payment factor has been raised from 35% to 70%, effectively doubling the amount producers receive. Rollins stated that this adjustment would significantly increase the financial support available to farmers and ranchers, with payments expected to begin arriving next week. The extension of the SDRP application deadline from April 30 to August 12 was also announced. Rollins explained that this extension allows more time for producers and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to address potential changes in the program that could affect payments. USDA officials, including Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce, highlighted that the delay was partly due to clarifying what qualifies as a quality loss under the program. Some farmers, particularly rice growers in the Mid-South, have faced challenges selling 2024 harvests due to quality issues, preventing them from receiving SDRP payments.#trump_administration #brooke_rollins #usda #farm_service_agency #richard_fordyce
USDA Issues Second Supplemental Disaster Payment to Farmers, Extends Program Deadline The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the release of a second Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) payment to eligible farmers impacted by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024, while also extending the application deadline for the program. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins made the announcement in Higginsville, Missouri, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to supporting farmers during a challenging economic period. The extension of the deadline, now set for August 12, 2026, allows producers and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) additional time to address potential changes in program applications that could affect payment calculations. The SDRP payments, initially set at a 35% payment factor, have been increased to 70%, meaning eligible producers with approved applications will receive an additional 35% of their calculated payment. This adjustment applies to both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the program, ensuring greater financial support for disaster-impacted farmers. Rollins highlighted the administration’s efforts to strengthen the farm safety net, noting that the extension of the deadline and the additional payment reflect the government’s prioritization of farmers’ needs. The USDA has already disbursed $6.7 billion in SDRP payments to eligible producers as part of broader disaster assistance efforts. Combined with other programs, the Trump administration’s initiatives have provided over $17.9 billion in supplemental disaster aid mandated by Congress through the American Relief Act, 2025. This includes $9.3 billion from the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, nearly $1.#brooke_rollins #usda #farm_service_agency #emergency_commodity_assistance_program #emergency_livestock_relief_program
U.S. Forest Service Reorganization Threatens Portland's Role The U.S. Forest Service is undergoing a major restructuring that could significantly alter its operations in the Pacific Northwest, with key roles and research functions being relocated from Portland, Oregon. The proposed changes, which include shifting the regional office and research facilities out of Portland, have sparked concerns among local stakeholders about the potential loss of influence over forest management decisions in the region. Portland has historically served as a central hub for wildfire planning, timber policy, and scientific research across Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. The city’s regional office oversees vast federal lands, including a quarter of Oregon’s total land area, and coordinates wildfire response, conservation efforts, and timber policy. Additionally, Portland is home to the 100-year-old Pacific Northwest Research Station, which employs nearly 250 scientists studying forest health, climate change, and ecosystems. Under the proposed reorganization, these research operations would be consolidated in Fort Collins, Colorado, marking a significant shift in the agency’s footprint. The reorganization also involves relocating the Forest Service’s headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized that the move aims to bring decision-making closer to the lands the agency manages, which are predominantly in the West. She argued that the changes would save taxpayer dollars and improve employee recruitment, while creating a more efficient and responsive agency. “This is about building a Forest Service that is nimble, efficient, effective, and closer to the forests and communities it serves,” said agency chief Tom Schultz in a statement.#us_forest_service #portland_oregon #pacific_northwest_research_station #brooke_rollins #tom_schultz
