ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The importance of safeguarding important personal information, especially for farmers, cannot be understated. Recently, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (D-MD) introduced some legislation to help with just that.
Last week, McClain Delaney introduced the Protecting Agricultural Borrower Information Act, which would prevent the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing Americans’ most sensitive financial information under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“The Protecting Agricultural Borrower Information Act is designed to make absolutely sure that farmers’ most sensitive financial and operational information is protected. It prohibits outside parties and ‘efficiency’ employees, like those from DOGE, from accessing USDA databases containing personal or financial data,” McClain Delaney said. “It also reaffirms USDA’s responsibility to safeguard that information internally. This legislation restores trust – farmers deserve to know that their livelihoods are being protected by accountable, trained USDA staff, not outside actors with unclear motives. The catalyst for this legislation was clear reports of a breach within USDA, along with troubling information that sensitive data may have been shared with third parties outside the government, all with no transparency from the agencies involved. It wasn’t just USDA either – similar breaches have happened at the IRS, Social Security, and other federal agencies. As the daughter of an Idaho potato farmer, I know how much trust farmers place in the government when they provide personal and financial information. These repeated breaches made it painfully clear how we need stronger protections to safeguard that trust.”
McClain Delaney said farmers everywhere, including all the way in Southwest Kansas, should be paying attention.
“USDA programs – like disaster relief, farm loans, and other FSA support – are lifelines for farmers everywhere, including Southwest Kansas. In fact, more than 90 percent of U.S. producers rely on USDA programs at some point in their careers,” McClain Delaney said. “Primarily, this legislation prevents outside parties from having access to sensitive data, which reduces risk of misuse, cyber threats, or accidental exposure. It also strengthens the overall trust between producers and the USDA, ensuring that farmers can focus on feeding the nation instead of worrying about whether their private information is secure. If farmers can’t trust that their data is secure, that lifeline is compromised. With rising costs, extreme weather, and volatile markets, the last thing producers should have to worry about is whether their personal or financial information is safe. This legislation ensures that farmers can continue to rely on USDA programs with confidence, protecting their families and their businesses.”
The importance of having such protection in place, McClain Delaney said, cannot be underestimated.
“Providing this information is more than just filling out forms, it’s sharing your life, your family’s livelihood, and your financial well-being with the government. Trust must be honored,” McClain Delaney said. “Without protections like these, farmers are left vulnerable to outside parties or poorly managed systems, and that simply isn’t acceptable. This legislation makes security, accountability, and respect for farmers’ work a priority. People should think about the farmers they know – the families who get up before dawn, rain or shine, to put food on our tables. Supporting this legislation is about standing with those families, ensuring their private information remains private, and that they can continue to rely on USDA programs with confidence. It’s a simple step we can all take to protect the people who feed the U.S. And people should not be afraid to use their voice – talk to neighbors about it, write letters about it and raise awareness.”
Overall, the main goals of the legislation run deep.
“I grew up on a farm in Idaho, so I understand farming isn’t just a job, it’s a family legacy. Farmers deserve assurances that their private information will never be compromised,” McClain Delaney said. “With breaches happening across multiple federal agencies, it’s clear this is a nationwide issue. This legislation is about protecting trust, safeguarding livelihoods, and making sure no family ever has to worry about their data being mishandled.”
