Marcia Brown

Washington, D.C., United States

Food and Agriculture Reporter at POLITICO

journalist covering food and ag @politico previously @Capitol_Forum @TheProspect [email protected] | Signal: marciagbrown.68

Articles

Trump officials delayed farm trade report over deficit forecast

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Marcia Brown

Administration officials blocked publication of written analysis that normally accompanies the report because they disliked what it said about the deficit. A USDA spokesperson blamed the delay on an internal review. | Jose Luis Magana/AP Trump administration officials delayed and redacted a government forecast because it predicts an increase in the nation’s trade deficit in farm goods later this year, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Trump officials delayed farm trade report over deficit forecast

2 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Marcia Brown

16 hours agoElon Musk has hit out at President Donald Trump's signature tax and spending bill, describing it as a "disgusting abomination", in a widening rift between the two. The tech billionaire posted on X that the bill would add to the US budget deficit and saddle Americans with "crushing" debt. The budget, …
Trump officials delayed farm trade report over deficit forecast

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Marcia Brown

Trump administration officials delayed and redacted a government forecast because it predicts an increase in the nation’s trade deficit in farm goods later this year, according to two people familiar with the matter. The numbers run counter to President Donald Trump’s messaging that his economic policies, including tariffs, will reduce U.S. trade imbalances.
House budget bill would cut millions of people from food aid, CBO says

4 weeks ago | politico.com | Marcia Brown
RFK Jr. says food and pharma are poisoning Americans. His big report says a fix is coming.

4 weeks ago | politico.com | Carmen Paun |Chelsea Cirruzzo |Marcia Brown |David Lim

The Make America Healthy Again Commission Kennedy leads will release a strategy to combat chronic disease by summer’s end. On Capitol Hill, Kennedy has pointed the finger at some of America’s most iconic food companies, accusing them of making kids sick for profit. | Michael Conroy/AP A much anticipated report led by Health Secretary Robert F.
GOP allies in farm and food are sweating RFK Jr.’s big report

1 month ago | politico.com | Carmen Paun |Danny Nguyen |Marcia Brown |Caitlin Oprysko

President Donald Trump’s embrace of an environmental activist long on the far left of the Democratic Party worked out great in last year’s election and most Republicans in Congress endorsed Trump’s decision to let Kennedy “go wild” on health care. But lately, they’ve asked him pointed questions about what’s coming in his Make America Healthy Again Commission’s report. Kennedy has said repeatedly he believes food companies make people sick for profit.
USDA spiking global food aid grants

1 month ago | politico.com | Marcia Brown |Ben Johansen |Sophia Cai |Irie Sentner

Welcome to POLITICO’s West Wing Playbook: Remaking Government, your guide to Donald Trump’s unprecedented overhaul of the federal government — the key decisions, the critical characters and the power dynamics that are upending Washington and beyond. | Subscribe | | | LATEST: DOGE sought access to a legislative branch agency for the fourth time last week, our KATHERINE TULLY-McMANUS reports.
GOP reconciliation bill inches forward

1 month ago | politico.com | Marcia Brown

With help from Jennifer Scholtes, Meredith Lee Hill and Samuel Benson — The House Budget Committee clears the way for Republicans’ sweeping tax and spending package to move forward. — Anti-hunger advocates warn the House’s cuts to nutrition assistance and other food programs will make people hungrier — and less healthy. — USDA tees up its reorganization plan for May 27, days after a court order barring further staff reductions is set to expire.
White House budget proposal cuts nutrition, conservation spending

1 month ago | politico.com | Marcia Brown

With help from Samuel Benson and Grace Yarrow— President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” could be in trouble. And here’s what the White House’s budget proposal would mean for food and agriculture. — EXCLUSIVE: The Center for the Environment & Welfare is launching a six-figure campaign against California’s animal welfare law known as Proposition 12. — USDA confirmed that more than 15,000 employees across the department have agreed to take the Trump administration’s offer to resign.
More than 15,000 USDA employees take Trump's offer to resign

1 month ago | politico.com | Marcia Brown

Their departures will affect how the department administers food safety and nutrition programs, conducts research and offers services to farmers. The resignations account for roughly 15 percent of USDA's overall workforce. | Jose Luis Magana/AP At least 15,000 Agriculture Department employees have taken the Trump administration’s offers to resign, according to a readout of a USDA briefing with congressional staff that was shared with POLITICO.