USDA Implements New General Terms and Conditions for Grants

(Washington, D.C., December 31, 2025) — In a landmark move today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the implementation of the first-ever set of General Terms and Conditions for all USDA awards. This directive aims to streamline processes across the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and enhance program efficiency.

Streamlining Government Efficiency

“Since Day One, the Trump Administration has focused on promoting efficiency within the government, eliminating unnecessary regulations, and curtailing waste, fraud, and abuse in USDA programs,” said Secretary Rollins. “We recognized the complex challenge of updating over 100 different terms and conditions that often lacked essential clauses, such as termination clauses, each time a new policy was rolled out.”

Significant Impact on Grant Disbursement

USDA administers a vast array of grants and cooperative agreements, with over $145 billion distributed through 287 programs in FY2025. This funding has supported nearly 38,000 new awards to farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and small businesses. The initiative comes at a critical time, with 50,979 active awards currently managed by the USDA, highlighting the necessity for consistent oversight.

A Unified Approach to Award Management

Prior to this decision, each USDA agency operated under different versions of terms and conditions, resulting in over 2,200 pages of documentation. This fragmentation created unnecessary paperwork burdens, making it challenging for producers and small businesses to access financial assistance efficiently.

The new directive will standardize terms and conditions across all USDA programs, allowing award recipients and cooperators to navigate 50 or fewer pages of requirements, significantly simplifying the process.

Supporting the National Farm Security Action Plan

This initiative aligns with USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan and Executive Order 14332 on improving oversight of federal grant-making. It reflects the department’s commitment to realigning its focus towards its foundational principles and objectives, a step celebrated by many stakeholders.

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