White House requests $11 billion in additional farm aid
The White House is asking Congress to approve more than $11 billion in additional assistance for U.S. farmers while also urging lawmakers to permanently authorize year-round sales of E15 gasoline.
The supplemental funding request includes $10 billion in temporary economic assistance for row and specialty crop producers with 2026 plantings, plus an additional $1.1 billion for Florida farmers recovering from devastating winter storms. The proposal would add to the approximately $12 billion in farm assistance already distributed this year.
The request comes as producers continue to grapple with high input costs, weak commodity prices and ongoing market uncertainty. Reuters reported that, if approved, direct government payments to farmers would total about $55.4 billion in 2026, representing roughly one-third of total farm income — the highest level since 2001.
The White House also called on Congress to permanently authorize nationwide year-round sales of E15, describing the change as an “urgent and needed fix” that would expand fuel choices and support domestic fuel production, according to Reuters.
While the U.S. House approved standalone E15 legislation in May, the Senate is expected to pursue its own version after refinery exemption language complicated the House bill.
OMB’s EXACT language re: #E15: “The Administration requests a fix that codifies the permanent, year-round sale of E-15, an urgent and needed policy change that would expand consumer choice, support domestic fuel production, and provide additional flexibility in fuel markets.” pic.twitter.com/uPrxmtL4Tf
— Corey Lavinsky (@biofuelslaw) June 24, 2026
The funding request falls short of the roughly $17.2 billion in producer assistance some Senate Republicans had been discussing in recent weeks, but it marks the administration’s latest effort to provide additional relief as Congress continues work on broader agricultural priorities.
Among the farm organizations welcoming the proposal was the American Farm Bureau Federation.
AFBF President Zippy Duvall said, “Farmers are grateful to have the president’s backing at such a critical time after enduring years of economic losses due to inflation and depressed markets. Additional aid will give farmers optimism headed into harvest later this year as they await the benefits of enhanced farm bill programs, better market access overseas and stronger domestic demand.
“Not only do we urge Congress to heed the White House call to deliver economic aid, but we also know both sides of the aisle in Congress recognize more is needed as farmers’ losses nationwide far exceed $11 billion. Over the last decade we have lost nearly 200,000 farms, so we need to stabilize the farm economy and reverse that trend. Additional aid will certainly help.
“The White House also urged Congress to authorize year-round sales of E15 fuel nationwide, which we’ve long called for. Expanding access to E15 would strengthen domestic energy production, increase demand for American-grown crops and save consumers at the gas pump. That’s a win all the way around.
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