October 16, 2025
Because Congress failed to pass a bill to fund the federal government by September 30, the government entered a shutdown on October 1, furloughing roughly half of USDA staff and putting many essential services on hold. The shutdown comes amid a federal workforce already significantly depleted following mass layoffs and deferred resignations at USDA and other agencies earlier this year. Now, farmers and rural communities are facing prolonged delays in conservation program payments and are unable to access the loans, disaster assistance, and technical support they need. During the shutdown, nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC will continue—for now.
At the center of the negotiations leading to the shutdown was the expiration of the enhanced Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTC) that have helped make health insurance significantly more affordable for thousands of Vermonters. If these credits expire, more than 30,000 Vermonters are expected to see their health care premiums more than double, with farmers disproportionately affected. These changes deepen uncertainty across rural communities and underscore the urgent need for stable, forward-looking food, health, and farm policy.
If you or your farm business are being impacted by the shutdown or by the expiration of the APTC, please take a moment to let us know by filling out our impact form. Your story matters—to us and to policymakers—as they work to secure the best possible outcomes for Vermonters.
You may be asking: what about the Farm Bill? While some Farm Bill programs were reauthorized in the federal budget reconciliation bill passed in July, the majority of programs also expired on October 1, adding to the uncertainty for farmers and rural communities. Read more about the Farm Bill and the impacts of the shutdown on farmers from NSAC. The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) also has more information about the shutdown’s impacts on nutrition programs.