Department of Agriculture
Note: On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued a memorandum instituting a regulatory freeze, preventing agencies from issuing proposals or rules pending review by Trump-appointed agency heads. On January 31, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14192, directing agencies to identify 10 existing regulations to eliminate for each new regulation they promulgate.
Adaptation Plans, Strategic Plans, and Policy Directives
In his January 27, 2021 Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, President Biden mandated federal agencies to release plans on how they will adapt to climate change. On October 7, 2021, twenty-three federal agencies released plans detailing how they will adapt to climate change and increase resilience to climate change impacts. The plans include a variety of resiliency and adaptation measures, including steps to develop a more resilient supply change, to enhance protections for workers and communities, and to increase climate literacy and leadership within Federal agencies. The climate adaptation and resilience plans were previously submitted to and reviewed by the National Climate Task Force, White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, and the Office of Management and Budget.
In May 2024, USDA released its 2024–2027 Climate Adaptation Plan, building on its 2021 action plan. The 2024–2027 plan outlines actions USDA will take to build climate resilience with investments in soil and forest health, advance research into and the adoption of climate-smart practices and strategies, broaden access to climate data, and deliver climate adaptation science, technology, and tools.
Biden Administration (2021–2024)
In May 2024, USDA released its 2024–2027 Climate Adaptation Plan, building on its 2021 action plan. The 2024–2027 plan outlines actions USDA will take to build climate resilience with investments in soil and forest health, advance research into and the adoption of climate-smart practices and strategies, broaden access to climate data, and deliver climate adaptation science, technology, and tools.
In August 2022, USDA released a progress report on the agency’s action plan for climate adaptation.
On June 23, 2022, the USDA Secretary released a memorandum on Climate Resilience and Carbon Stewardship of America's National Forests and Grasslands. The memorandum outlines a number of climate actions, including identifying risks to ecosystem values to inform decision-making, developing policy recommendations to ensure climate resilience on national forest land, and more.
In June 2022, USDA’s Risk Management Agency released a Climate Adaptation Plan.
On November 15, 2021, USDA released its strategic plan for fiscal years 2022–2026. The first strategic goal listed in the report is to “combat climate change to support America’s working lands, natural resources, and communities.”
On May 26, 2021, USDA published a policy statement on climate change adaptation. The guidance establishes a “directive to integrate climate change adaptation planning, implementation actions, and performance metrics into USDA programs, policies, and operations in accordance with executive orders and additional guidance from” the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The statement outlines a number of actions that will be taken to effectuate that directive.
On May 20, 2021, USDA released a report outlining a set of recommendations for a USDA climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy, based on feedback from agricultural and forestry stakeholders.
First Trump Administration (2017–2020)
USDA's strategic plan for fiscal years 2018–2022, issued in May 2018, includes several climate-related objectives, including mitigating wildfire risk and ensuring that lands and watersheds are sustainable, healthy, and productive.
Obama Administration (2009–2016)
On June 15, 2015, USDA released a revision of USDA’s Policy Statement on Climate Change Adaptation, originally issued in 2011. The revised departmental regulation requires USDA agencies to integrate adaptation planning, implementing actions, and performance metrics into programs, policies, and operations, and to identify areas in which budget adjustment or legal analysis is needed to carry out these mandates.
In June 2014, USDA published a revised USDA Climate Change Adaptation Plan which contained an updated vulnerability assessment, strategic goals, and a summary of initial adaptation actions, such as the development of the USDA Regional Climate Hubs.
In 2014, USDA released its Fiscal Years 2014-2018 Strategic Plan. This document reiterates the same goals and objectives that were outlined in the 2010-2015 strategic plan, and provides a high-level assessment of implementation. One of the implementing strategies identified in the plan is to “develop tools to quantify the value of ecosystem services, monitor and assess conservation practices effectiveness, and connect producers with market opportunities.”
In 2012, USDA published a USDA Climate Change Adaptation Plan which contained a high-level vulnerability assessment and further elaborated on the department’s strategic goals with respect to climate change adaptation and mitigation.
In 2011, USDA issued a departmental regulation, the Policy Statement on Climate Change Adaptation, to integrate climate change adaptation planning and actions into USDA programs, policies, and operations.
In 2010, USDA released its FY 2010-2015 Strategic Plan. One of four strategic goals is to ensure national forest and private working lands are conserved, restored, and made more resilient to climate change. The plan outlines a number of objectives within this goal, including to lead efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, bring all national forests into compliance with a climate change adaptation and mitigation strategy, and reduce wildfire risk.
In 2010, USDA also released its Climate Change Science Plan. This document describes how climate change should be accounted for in the scientific missions of USDA agencies. It identifies four priority elements: (1) understanding the effects of climate change on natural and managed ecosystems; (2) developing knowledge, institutional models, and tools to enable adaptation; (3) developing knowledge and tools for greenhouse gas mitigation; and (4) providing science-based decision support to USDA agencies and other stakeholders.
GHG Mitigation
USDA has multiple sources of statutory authority for its greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation activities, including through appropriations acts, the the 2022 Growing Climate Solutions Act, and USDA's special use regulatory authority.
Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program
On May 29, 2024, USDA published a proposed rule with a request for information “to support the preparation of proposed regulations intended to implement the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program.” 89 Fed. Reg. 46,335 (May 29, 2024). The program aims to assist farmers, ranchers, and private forest owners to participate in voluntary carbon markets.
Biden Administration (2021-2024)
Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program
On May 29, 2024, USDA published a proposed rule with a request for information “to support the preparation of proposed regulations intended to implement the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program.” 89 Fed. Reg. 46,335 (May 29, 2024). The program aims to assist farmers, ranchers, and private forest owners to participate in voluntary carbon markets.
Carbon Capture and Storage
On November 3, 2023, USDA published a proposed rule to “amend its special use regulations, which prohibit authorizing exclusive and perpetual use and occupancy of National Forest System lands, to provide an exemption for carbon capture and storage. The Forest Service is also proposing to add a definition for ‘Carbon capture and storage.’” 88 Fed. Reg. 75,530 (Nov. 3, 2023).
GHG Measurement and Monitoring
On July 12, 2023, USDA released a draft interagency report, “Federal Strategy to Advance Greenhouse Gas Measurement and Monitoring for the Agriculture and Forest Sectors (Strategy),” and published a notice with a request for information on the draft. 88 Fed. Reg. 44,251 (July 12, 2023).
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge
On September 9, 2021, the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, and Department of Agriculture released a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formally launching an inter-agency Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge. The purpose of the Grand Challenge is “to reduce the cost, enhance the sustainability, and expand the production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) that achieves a minimum of 50% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) compared to conventional fuel to meet a goal of supplying sufficient SAF to meet 100% of aviation fuel demand by 2050.” The MOU also intends to support a just transition of the energy industry through job creation. Among other things, the agencies signing the MOU agreed to establish a joint, executive-level team to develop a framework for its implementation.