Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to address regulatory “lawfare” targeting farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and small businesses.
- USDA will operate a centralized portal for regulatory complaints involving any federal agency, with submissions shared with SBA's Office of the National Ombudsman for case management.
- SBA is authorized to analyze complaint data to identify recurring enforcement patterns that may be disproportionate or abusive, with findings intended to inform deregulatory action.
- The MOU builds on existing Trump Administration deregulatory efforts, including EPA actions on farmer right-to-repair and removal of Diesel Exhaust Fluid sensor requirements estimated to save farmers $4.4 billion annually.
- The agreement aligns with President Trump's Executive Order, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation.”
SBA and USDA Formalize Regulatory Relief Partnership for Rural America
The U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a coordinated framework for addressing regulatory complaints from farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and small businesses. The agreement creates formal channels through which producers can report what the two agencies describe as “lawfare” — regulations and enforcement actions they say disproportionately burden agricultural operators who lack the legal or financial resources to challenge them.
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler framed the partnership as a direct response to what she called a growing compliance burden on American producers:
“Farmers and ranchers do some of the hardest and most essential work in America, yet they have faced a growing burden from costly federal regulations – crushing generational businesses that lack the time, money, or legal resources to fight back,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With our MOU, the SBA and USDA now offer America's producers a direct line to report lawfare, with a new infrastructure to deliver lasting regulatory reform. Thanks to President Trump's leadership, we are eliminating barriers and supporting small businesses in their mission to keep America fed, clothed, and fueled.”
How the Complaint and Referral System Works
Under the MOU, USDA will run a centralized lawfare portal to collect complaints involving any federal agency. Those submissions will be passed to SBA's Office of the National Ombudsman, which will handle case management and coordination. Complaints that fall under USDA's jurisdiction will be processed through the Department's own designated channels, while those involving other federal agencies will be referred by SBA to the relevant bodies for resolution.
The agreement also gives SBA authority to analyze aggregated complaint data, with the aim of identifying recurring enforcement patterns or regulatory requirements that appear inconsistent, disproportionate, or otherwise overreaching. That analysis is intended to feed into broader agriculture deregulatory reform efforts.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins highlighted the enforcement fairness dimension of the agreement:
“Producers and ranchers who feed this nation should never face the full power of government alone,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “This partnership with the SBA creates clear pathways for redress, ensures fairness in enforcement, and demonstrates that Washington stands with, not against, the hardworking Americans who sustain our country. Through the USDA Lawfare Portal and interagency collaboration, we are delivering real protection under the Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework.”
Broader Deregulatory Context
The MOU sits within a wider set of Trump Administration actions targeting federal regulatory costs for agricultural operators. Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, working alongside SBA and USDA, clarified that manufacturers cannot use the Clean Air Act to restrict farmers' access to repair tools or software — a move framed as affirming the right to repair. SBA and USDA also supported an EPA action removing Diesel Exhaust Fluid sensor requirements for diesel equipment, a change the agencies say is projected to save U.S. farmers $4.4 billion per year.
The agreement formally advances President Trump's Executive Order, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” extending its scope to agricultural and rural small business communities through the new interagency coordination structure.
