The U.S. House of Representatives’ Democratic Women’s Caucus is pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to restore four women to the United Soybean Board after the agency blocked their reappointment — a decision the caucus says is taking the organization and American farmers “in the wrong direction.”
The 96-member caucus sent a formal letter on July 13 to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and USDA Agriculture Marketing Specialist Sarah Aswegan, demanding the agency reverse course on a move first brought to light by Reuters back in April.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration rejected all four women — along with one man — who had been selected by fellow farmers to represent them on the United Soybean Board. The USDA’s involvement was described as an unusual step, as the agency has historically approved state-level selections with little pushback. No explanation has been offered by the USDA for the rejections.
In the letter, the caucus wrote: “Your decision is not only disrespectful to the qualified women who were nominated, it sends a message to women farmers that their voices do not matter.”
The group added: “We strongly urge USDA to reverse its decision and allow these nominees to serve their rightful terms.”
The removal of those women left the United Soybean Board — which manages more than $121 million in farmer-contributed funds aimed at growing markets for U.S. soybeans — with only five women among its 77 board members. That represents the lowest female representation on the board in at least ten years. Women account for more than a third of all U.S. farmers, though they have traditionally held fewer leadership positions within commodity organizations.
The USDA’s action fits into a broader pattern under the current administration, which has reversed equal pay measures put in place by the previous administration and scaled back federal programs designed to address historical disadvantages faced by women and minority groups. The White House has argued those types of programs violate anti-discrimination laws and undermine advancement based on merit.
Democratic Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota, who serves as the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, responded sharply to the situation. “This is the type of targeted discrimination I have come to expect from this administration. These women were nominated by their peers and deserve to be reinstated to do the work that they are capable and qualified to do,” she said.
