Kelly Loeffler, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Agriculture Department, has come under scrutiny due to her family's receipt of over $4.1 million in federal farm subsidies between 1995 and 2023. This information was revealed in an analysis conducted by the Environmental Working Group, a health advocacy organization that gathers data from the Department of Agriculture through Freedom of Information Act requests.
Loeffler has often highlighted her upbringing on a family farm in Illinois, which was established by her grandfather in the early 1900s and managed by her father, Don Loeffler, for many years. Currently, the farm is operated by her brother Brian Loeffler, his wife Molly, and their son Collin, as per the Loeffler Farms website.
The analysis by EWG shows that Don Loeffler received close to $1.3 million in federal subsidies since 1995, while Brian Loeffler has received approximately $1.6 million during the same period. When questioned about the subsidies during her 2020 senate campaign, a spokesperson for Loeffler mentioned the challenge of determining the exact amount received by the family farm due to land sales over the past decade and a half.
The federal government offers various subsidies to farmers, including those aimed at promoting specific farming practices, research and development, conservation efforts, nutrition, and disaster aid. Notably, during Trump's first term, his administration allocated over $20 billion in subsidies to support farmers impacted by the trade tensions with China.
