The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to restore critical climate information that was removed from its website during the Trump administration. This decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed earlier this year, emphasizing the importance of these resources for farmers facing increasing climate-related challenges such as droughts, floods, and wildfires.
The lawsuit, initiated by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York alongside environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Working Group, claimed that the deletion of the data hampered farmers’ ability to make informed decisions crucial for their livelihoods. The removed content included information on federal funding, forest conservation, and the USDA's "Climate Risk Viewer,” a tool providing detailed maps of climate impact on national forests and grasslands.
On May 12, 2025, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, informed Judge Margaret M. Garnett that the USDA is already in the process of reinstating the deleted content and anticipates substantial completion within two weeks. He also requested to postpone an upcoming hearing to thoughtfully address further actions in the litigation.
Jeffrey Stein, an attorney from Earthjustice, which represented the plaintiffs in the case, expressed satisfaction with the USDA’s decision, asserting that the removal of such vital climate-related information was detrimental to farmers and rural communities nationwide. The ruling marks a significant step in affirming farmers' access to essential environmental data, enabling them to better prepare for the increasing impacts of climate change on their businesses.
