House appropriators Monday night approved a $25.5 billion spending plan for agriculture programs for the coming fiscal year, endorsing cuts to conservation and climate-related initiatives.
The bill would solidify Republican-led efforts to lower spending in line with Trump administration goals. But debates about proposed new limits on low-income nutrition programs and on the availability of the abortion medication mifepristone through Food and Drug Administration rules complicate the picture on the floor.
The spending bill proposes an overall reduction of 4.2 percent in discretionary spending compared to the current fiscal year. But some programs would see far deeper cuts, while certain areas of research and food safety would see modest increases. The vote was 35-27 along party lines as the committee completed a markup left over from before last week’s House recess.
Among failed Democratic amendments was a proposal to stop the Agriculture Department from closing local service centers that connect farmers with conservation and other programs.
