As U.S. lawmakers return to Washington from summer recess with just weeks to fund the government and avoid a shutdown, passing a farm bill by the Sept. 30 deadline is looking all but impossible.
The bill, which must be approved every five years and could top $1 trillion, governs U.S. foreign food assistance programs. It authorizes key programs to fund school meals, provide both emergency and nonemergency food aid, and donate U.S. commodities that are distributed as food or sold to fund projects.
Amid nearly unprecedented rancor both between Republicans and Democrats and among factions within the parties, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are having a difficult time accomplishing one of their most fundamental tasks: passing appropriations bills to fund the government. Those funding fights, which have the same deadline of Sept. 30 to approve bills to keep the government running, are taking center stage over the farm bill.
About the author
Teresa Welshtmawelsh
Teresa Welsh is a Senior Reporter at Devex. She has reported from more than 10 countries and is currently based in Washington, D.C. Her coverage focuses on Latin America; U.S. foreign assistance policy; fragile states; food systems and nutrition; and refugees and migration. Prior to joining Devex, Teresa worked at McClatchy's Washington Bureau and covered foreign affairs for U.S. News and World Report. She was a reporter in Colombia, where she previously lived teaching English. Teresa earned bachelor of arts degrees in journalism and Latin American studies from the University of Wisconsin.
