WASHINGTON — Lawmakers on the House Agriculture Committee debated a sweeping proposal to reshape U.S. agricultural policy late on Tuesday as Republicans advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, a bill intended to serve as the House framework for the next farm bill.
The full committee markup began at 6 p.m. and stretched until nearly midnight before resuming Wednesday at 8 a.m., with lawmakers clashing over agricultural subsidies, conservation programs and food assistance.
“This so-called farm bill is problematic because it screws over a lot of poor people in this country,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., during the markup debate. “We have millions and millions of people in this country, the richest country in the history of the world, who are hungry.”
The debate carried broad national implications because the farm bill governs major parts of U.S. agricultural and nutrition policy. Congress typically renews the legislation every five years, combining funding for farmers with nutrition assistance programs that support millions of Americans. The current farm bill, passed in 2018, has been extended multiple times since expiring in 2023.
One of the largest programs affected is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helped about 41.7 million Americans afford food in May 2025, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center based on federal data.
According to a summary released by the House Agriculture Committee, the new farm bill will expand producers’ access to credit, promote precision agriculture, and enhance conservation programs for working lands. Republicans defended the proposal as a necessary update to agricultural policy, arguing it reflects economic pressures facing farmers.
“The policies of 2018 are no match for the challenges of 2026,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa. “An update to the farm bill is long overdue.”
Democrats countered that the legislation fails to protect nutrition programs. Instead, they pushed the Farm and Family Relief Act, a bill Democrats introduced in January that proposes $56 billion to help farmers and fund SNAP.
“We could move forward with the Farm and Family Relief Act,” said Ranking Member Angie Craig, D-Minn. “Sadly, Republicans seem determined to continue down the partisan path.”
Republicans pushed back on that criticism. Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minn., argued the legislation includes provisions originally introduced by Democratic lawmakers. Finstad condemned the posture of Democrats.
“This is political theater,” he said.
Some lawmakers said the proposal still faces obstacles in building the bipartisan coalition that historically helps farm bills pass Congress.
Rep. John W. Mannion, D-N.Y., told Medill News Service that major policy disagreements remain.
“We all recognize farmers’ importance,” Mannion said. “But historically farm bills succeed because they bring everyone together, and this proposal does not get us there yet.”
Agricultural industry groups have welcomed parts of the proposal. According to the USA Rice Federation, the legislation could help provide long-term certainty for agricultural producers and maintain U.S. commodities as a core component of international food assistance programs.
The current debate follows a similar legislative effort in 2024, when the committee held a full markup of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024. Committee leaders at the time described that proposal as the result of extensive feedback from agricultural stakeholders and lawmakers. However, Congress struggled to finalize the proposal, extending the 2018 version while negotiations continue.
As the markup continues, lawmakers are expected to consider additional amendments before the committee votes on whether to send the bill to the House floor.
Even if the House advances its version, lawmakers would still need to negotiate with the Senate before Congress can finalize the next farm bill.