The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a sweeping change in how it administers grants and cooperative agreements, consolidating more than 2,200 pages of agency-specific requirements into a standardized framework of about 50 pages.
With 21 agencies overseeing roughly $145 billion in awards during fiscal year (FY) 2025, the move is intended to reduce administrative hurdles and make it easier for members of the agricultural and academic communities, small businesses and other eligible stakeholders to apply for assistance.
The framework change is part of a broader agency reform effort aimed at strengthening oversight, efficiency and accountability, and aligning USDA policies with Executive Order 14332, signed by President Donald Trump on Aug. 7, 2025. The order directs federal agencies to revise grant procedures, standardize requirements and increase oversight of how taxpayer dollars are spent.
According to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, the updates also allow the department to include termination clauses when programs no longer advance their stated goals or the national interest, and to improve oversight of subcontractors involved in federally funded projects.
USDA officials said the standardized general terms and conditions are effective immediately for new grant and cooperative agreement awards following the Dec. 31 directive, and that agencies are expected to incorporate these terms into funding opportunities going forward. Additional information on the changes can be found on the USDA’s website.
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