A Missouri cattle farmer is facing financial ruin after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) froze funding for key conservation programs, despite previously signed contracts with the government.
The freeze, part of the Trump administration's sweeping federal review of spending programs, has left Skylar Holden, a first-generation farmer, scrambling to save his land.
@cattlemenfamilyfarms Also to add this is nothing against anyone who works with the NRCS. Absolutely amazing people who have been super helpful. It's just out of their hands. I have never been so stressed in my life. #politics #farming #agriculture #politicians #senate #houseofrepresentatives ♬ original sound - Skylar Holden
Holden, who voted for President Donald Trump, had signed a $240,000 contract with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to improve water lines, fencing, and wells on his farm.
Holden had already spent $80,000 on materials and labor when USDA officials recently informed him that his contract was now frozen, and it remains unclear when—if ever—the funds will be released.
"I've already done a bunch of the work, already paid for the material and the labor, so I'm out all that cost," he said. "We are possibly going to lose our farm if NRCS doesn't hold up their contract with us."
The current USDA freeze under Trump's leadership has left many disillusioned, including Holden, who has faced criticism after sharing his story on TikTok, with many telling him he "got exactly what he voted for."
When Holden admitted that he relied on a 25-question online quiz to tell him how to vote—rather than researching the candidate's policies himself—many commenters vehemently condemned his lack of political awareness.
Holden defended his thought process in trusting the quiz and voting for Trump, explaining that his 17-hour workdays leave little time for political research. He argued that neither party fully aligns with farmers' interests, pointing out that while Democrats push for electronic ID tags for cattle, Republicans generally oppose farm subsidies.
"You have to balance out what interests you support, what interests you don't," he reasoned, acknowledging he disagreed with a number of Trump's policies. "You make that vote and then you fight against the things that you feel passionate about, that you think your candidate is doing wrong."
Despite the backlash, Holden expressed gratitude for those who engaged respectfully. "I really appreciate the people in my messages that are having constructive conversations with me," he said. "A lot of people have opened my eyes to other issues that I don't pay attention to...because it doesn't affect me. Now, that's wrong...I haven't been paying attention...and I'm having those constructive conversations now."
Meanwhile, the USDA has stated that it will provide more information on the status of its programs once Brooke Rollins, Trump's nominee to lead the agency, is confirmed by the Senate.
As Holden continues to fight for his farm's survival, his story highlights the real-world consequences of government policy shifts, and the challenges of civic engagement in a polarizing political climate.
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