Wisconsin farmer sues USDA over discrimination against white farmers

In Madison, Wisconsin, a dairy farmer named Adam Faust initiated a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on a Monday, alleging that the federal government is unlawfully discriminating against white farmers. This lawsuit, filed by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, follows a successful legal action taken by Faust and several other farmers against the Biden administration in 2021 regarding race discrimination in a loan forgiveness program. The current lawsuit asserts that the USDA's continuation of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, originally implemented during President Biden's administration, grants minorities advantages that place white male farmers like Faust in a disadvantaged position. Faust argues that he represents approximately 2 million other white male farmers subject to what he claims are discriminatory policies at the USDA. These policies allegedly violate constitutional guarantees of equal treatment. The lawsuit highlights specific programs that Faust asserts have systematic inequalities, such as administrative fees and loan guarantees that favor female and minority farmers. Faust claimed that while he pays a $100 fee to participate in a program designed to help offset costs related to milk prices and feed costs, minority farmers do not incur this fee. Additionally, he points out that loan guarantees are less favorable for white farmers compared to their minority counterparts, which he believes disadvantages him and others in similar positions. Faust's claims are rooted not just in personal grievances but in a broader context of ongoing debates across the United States regarding equity in government programs. Previously, a federal court ruled that preferential treatment based on race in loan forgiveness amounted to unconstitutional discrimination, leading to the suspension of such programs by the Biden administration and their repeal by Congress in 2022. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty has a track record of filing lawsuits against government programs perceived as discriminatory, and their actions in this case further signal a growing trend among conservative groups to challenge diversity initiatives. The conservative response to the USDA's policies has been fueled by ongoing frustrations over federal support discrepancies among different farmer demographics. As many congressional representatives from Wisconsin ally themselves with Faust, calling for investigations into the USDA, the tension surrounding these issues persists, suggesting significant implications for future policies affecting agriculture and rural economies.