FARGO, ND – April 22, 2025 — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide $340.6 million in disaster assistance to support farmers, ranchers, and rural communities affected by recent natural disasters.
This aid comes as part of President Trump’s January executive order, which accelerated assistance for communities that had been neglected by the Biden Administration. Secretary Rollins is delivering this crucial funding through the USDA Disaster Assistance Fund, aiming to provide swift relief to those who have been waiting too long for support.
“My heart goes out to the families across our great country who have lost loved ones, homes, businesses and livelihoods,” Secretary Rollins said. “As one of his first executive actions, President Trump made it a top priority for his administration to deliver fast and fair relief to communities impacted by disasters. USDA is fulfilling the President’s promise today and ensuring we are doing everything we can to support state and local efforts to rebuild these communities to be even stronger than before.”
Secretary Rollins made the announcement in North Dakota, where USDA is allocating over $5 million to help repair electric infrastructure damaged by severe storms and wildfires.
USDA will also provide $25 million to North Carolina and $18 million to Tennessee to aid communities impacted by hurricanes since 2022, including hurricanes Fiona, Ian, Idalia, Helene, and others. This funding will include:
- $5.8 million for economic development for enterprises and farm producers
- $15.6 million to rebuild rural infrastructure
- $20 million for safe drinking water, waste disposal, and electric infrastructure restoration
- $2 million for technical assistance to towns seeking aid
As part of today’s announcement, the Trump Administration is making key changes to the fund by eliminating bureaucratic inefficiencies that will allow USDA to:
- Deploy aid as quickly as possible
- Manage funds more responsibly and effectively than ever before
- Respond promptly to a backlog of disaster assistance requests
- Waive limiting eligibility criteria like income requirements and population limits
The USDA Disaster Assistance Fund will provide direct relief to rural families, farmers, and small business owners, helping them recover, restore, and rebuild stronger than before. This announcement reaffirms the Administration’s commitment to standing by America’s rural communities in times of need. USDA continues to prioritize fast and effective disaster relief, ensuring no community is left behind after a disaster.
For more information on USDA disaster assistance programs, visit the Rural Development Disaster Assistance webpage.
