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The U.S. House narrowly passed a five-year farm bill (224–200) aimed at updating agriculture and nutrition policy after multiple short-term extensions of the 2018 bill. The legislation would authorize programs through 2031 and includes modest funding changes, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating minimal impact on discretionary spending and a small increase in mandatory spending.

The bill is considered a “skinny” version because many major policy changes—particularly to SNAP—were already made in prior legislation. While supporters argue it modernizes outdated programs and provides needed support to farmers and rural communities, critics say it fails to address rising costs for farmers and maintains significant cuts to nutrition assistance.

House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson emphasized urgency, stating that current policies “are no match for the challenges of 2026,” while Democrats like Rep. Jim McGovern strongly opposed the bill, arguing it “does nothing for our farmers… and is going to make hunger worse in this country.”

Key provisions include:

• $200 million for a new local food procurement program (primarily for food banks)
• Expanded borrowing limits for farmers
• Increased funding for rural mental health and substance abuse programs
• Shifting oversight of foreign food aid programs to USDA

The bill also removed a controversial pesticide liability protection provision during debate.

Despite passage in the House, the bill faces an uncertain path forward, as the Senate has yet to introduce its version.

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