Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told reporters this Thursday that distribution of emergency farm aid is stalled until the government shutdown ends. While the administration transferred $13billion to the USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) on Sept.28, Rollins said no further steps can be taken until Congress reopens the government.

"We've got to get the government reopened so that we can move forward on that, and once we do, we'll be able to move out a significant program to help our farmers," Rollins stated during a Cabinet meeting.

The delay underscores how fragile the U.S. farm economy remains. Rollins and President Trump laid the blame on the previous administration's inaction, while also pointing to China's reduced purchases of U.S. commodities after tariffs were elevated under Trump's previous term.

"The farm economy is in a very uncertain time ... we inherited a slew of issues," Rollins said. She added that trade challenges-especially with China-are among those inherited headwinds.

Rollins said the administration envisions a new era for rural America:

"We're moving into an era of rural prosperity, of a golden age for our farmers and rural America ... those who will benefit the most are ... our farmers and our ranchers."

Still, she cautioned that aid packages alone are not a sustainable loterm solution.

"We've got to change this hamster wheel of government ... ensure farmers have the market to sell. And it's a national security issue in on-shoring a lot of food as well," she said.

President Trump echoed that sentiment, saying he would press China over lagging soybean purchases when he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping at a regional summit in South Korea later this month. Trump has floated a possible trip to Beijing in early 2026 and hosting Xi in Washington later, as diplomatic ties remain strained-especially after China tightened export controls on rare earth elements critical to battery and tech manufacturing.

Until the shutdown ends, however, Rollins made clear that no payments can flow to farmers, despite the funding already held within USDA's CCC account. Without congressional action, growers remain in limbo amid low commodity prices and mounting input costs.

The path forward now hinges on whether Congress reopens the federal government-and how quickly USDA can finalize aid terms and criteria once that happens.