MAINE PUBLIC • February 18, 2025
The uncertainty fueled by the Trump administration’s wave of funding and hiring freezes is now being felt by Maine farmers. Those who have signed agreements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture are nervously awaiting word on whether they will get their promised funds, or be on the hook for thousands of dollars of projects that are already well underway. Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said she is hearing from farmers worried about losing their livelihoods to these sudden expenses. "It's got my blood boiling, and I know it's got a lot of farmers in the state of Maine very concerned about how they're going to make ends meet," she said.