Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee are calling on Chair Glenn Thompson to flex the panel’s oversight muscle as the Trump administration upends the Agriculture Department.
In a Tuesday letter to Thompson, the committee’s top two Democrats urged the Pennsylvania Republican to take a harder look at the USDA’s steep workforce reductions and the dangers of “forever” chemicals finding a way into the food system, among other issues.
“We believe it is long past time for the Agriculture Committee to take up its responsibilities regarding administration actions and other issues affecting American agriculture,” wrote Rep. Angie Craig (Minn.), the top Democrat on the panel, and Rep. Shontel Brown (Ohio), who is the vice ranking member.
While the committee and subcommittees have conducted 20 hearings since the GOP-led Congress was seated last January, the Democratic pair said that the vast majority have been focused on legislation rather than oversight.
