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Good afternoon,
According to Newsweek, President Donald Trump's approval rate is declining among rural Americans, one of his most supportive constituencies. For a long time, much of Trump's base has been made up of rural voters. With his latest aggressions and carelessness toward issues that impact rural Americans, that base is starting to crumble. A recent poll from PBS/NPR/Marist shows that just 46% of rural voters now approve of the president's job performance while 45% disapprove. On that note, at least 15,000 employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have taken the Trump administration's resignation offers. As reported by POLITICO, "the departures represent a drastic contraction of a department that handle a diverse portfolio including flagship federal nutrition programs, food safety, farm loans and rural broadband initiatives. The harm of President Trump's leadership is clearly showing in both the polls and lives of everyday people.
Here are a few important updates...
DEFAULT STUDENT LOANS IN DANGER
The Trump administration has restarted collections on student loans in default, putting millions of borrowers at risk of wage garnishment and other potential financial ramifications. This move is expected to impact over 5 million borrowers who are in default. A student loan in default will be negatively reflected in a person's credit report. Additionally, if student loan borrowers fail to make a loan payment for 90 days, they are considered delinquent. In March, the New York Federal Reserve found that "more than 9 million student loan borrowers will face significant drops in their credit score when delinquencies resume over the first half of 2025." Estimates indicate that "as many as 1.1 million rural student loan borrowers have fallen into delinquency or default." Now, as the Trump administration begins the collections on defaulted loans, the credit scores of rural Americans could face further potential damage.
The student debt crisis is rampant in the United States, especial in rural states. The cost of higher education in our country has risen significantly, making it relatively unaffordable for many students seeking a college education. At a time when education costs are out of control and millions of American students are in debt from student loans, our country should be finding ways to lower these costs and support students as they work to build their futures. One Country Project believes that education needs to be affordable and reflect the needs of our workforce. This includes supporting college tuition support, technical schools, and apprenticeships.
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Each week, this newsletter highlights what's going on in rural states, counties, and communities, and what One Country Project is up to around the country. If you value this content, please consider donating to One Country Project. Your contribution supports our efforts to connect with rural voters and to promote greater opportunities for rural communities.
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FARMERS STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH TOO
May is Mental Health Awareness Month – a time to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in the lives of Americans. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than one in five adults in the U.S. live with a mental illness. One group that does not receive much attention regarding this topic is farmers. People often think that being a farmer means having a laid-back lifestyle, living out in the country. Yet this stereotype is far from accurate. In fact, there is an ongoing farmer suicide crisis that many Americans likely do not know about. Studies have found that "suicide is unusually common among farmers." According to USA Today, this tragic mental health crisis caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Department sponsors training sessions "to help health care professionals learn how to talk to farmers about the pressures they face in wringing a living out of the land."
As the USDA faces abrupt and sweeping changes, it will be interesting to watch what programs are maintained and strengthened and which ones are eliminated. Currently, the USDA offers several resources on farm stress and mental health. Let's hope that this administration also recognizes the mental health crisis among farmers and the need to maintain critical programs and resources that provide them with the support they need as hardworking Americans.
2025 RURAL PROGRESS SUMMIT
This summer you can join One Country Project board members, influential speakers, policy experts, national leaders, and rural advocates for the fourth annual Rural Progress Summit July 8th - 10th. The keynote conversation will feature Sec. Pete Buttigieg in a virtual fireside chat with Sen. Heitkamp. As a former Transportation Secretary and small city mayor, Pete Buttigieg has the ability to speak knowledgeably and clearly on the biggest issues facing our country. The Rural Progress Summit explores ideas and policies that will shape the future of rural America.
Details
What: One Country Project Rural Progress Summit
When: Tuesday, July 8th – Thursday, July 10th, 2025
Where: Online, hosted on Zoom
Register Now
NUMBER OF THE WEEK
26%: This is the percentage by which the Trump administration's budget would slash HHS' discretionary funding. The budget includes steep cuts to healthcare programs, specifically those based in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health. As reported by KFF, "most of the public see the negative consequences from these cuts, with majorities saying cuts to staff and spending at federal health agencies will have a negative impact on health care for veterans, research to find cures and treatments for cancer and other diseases, efforts to combat the spread of infection diseases, and food safety."
- May 13th – Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing to examine perspectives from the field, focusing on conservation.
- May 15th – The Supreme Court will hear arguments over Trump's executive order to restrict birthright citizenship.
- June 5, 2025 – The deadline for grant applications for the Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program (TASC), and Emerging Markets Program (EMP). These programs help domestic producers find international markets.
WHAT WE'RE READING
Be sure to follow the One Country Project on Bluesky, Twitter, Facebook and Substack, and listen to The Hot Dish podcast.
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