Trump administration officials delayed and redacted a USDA forecast report due to its prediction of an increasing U.S. trade deficit in farm goods for 2025, which conflicted with President Trump’s narrative that his tariff policies would reduce trade imbalances. The report, typically issued quarterly and relied upon by policymakers, farm groups, and traders, was released on May 29, 2025, but without its usual written analysis, as officials objected to the deficit projections. The unredacted data, unchanged in the published version, showed the deficit rising to a projected $49 billion for fiscal year 2025, up from $31.8 billion in 2024. This move raised concerns about transparency, as the report’s analysis is critical for understanding agricultural trade trends.
Trump officials delayed farm trade report over deficit forecast
