The Department of Agriculture administers the federal government's farm, food, and rural-development programs, with most of its budget flowing through the Food and Nutrition Service to programs like SNAP and school meals. It also inspects the nation's meat and poultry, conducts agricultural research, runs farm-support and conservation programs, and manages the National Forest System through the Forest Service.
Open the interactive page for USDA →Created byOrganic Act of May 15, 1862 (ch. 72, 12 Stat. 387) establishing the Department; raised to Cabinet rank by the Act of February 9, 1889 (ch. 122, 25 Stat. 659)
Head appointed7 U.S.C. § 2202: there shall be at the seat of government a Department of Agriculture; the Secretary of Agriculture is appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. No fixed term (PAS)
Removal standardno statutory removal protection — removable at will (Myers v. United States, 272 U.S. 52 (1926))
Funded underAgriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, plus mandatory farm-bill and nutrition-program funding
Congressional oversightHouse Committee on Agriculture · Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Inspector generalUSDA OIG (PAS IG under the IG Act, 5 U.S.C. § 403(a))
Judicial reviewAPA § 702 suits in district court; Administrative Procedure Act review of agency rulemaking and benefit determinations, 5 U.S.C. § 706
Comment on proposed farm, nutrition, and food-safety rules during the public-comment period at regulations.gov; report food-safety problems to FSIS through the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline and askFSIS portal; apply for benefits or programs through your state SNAP office; vote for President and Senate.