Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed Karen Morrison as his fifth director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation.
Morrison has been with CalEPA since 2014, first as a scientist at CalRecycle before switching to DPR in 2018. She knows the small department from the ground up, having managed its environmental programs before rising to chief science advisor and, in 2022, chief deputy director. She has a doctorate in chemistry.
Remember: Former Director Julie Henderson stepped down on President Donald Trump’s inauguration day, after facing criticism for partnering with an environmental justice group on a “toxic tour” of farmland.
Riverside County sheriff runs for governor
Sheriff Chad Bianco has put his name in the ring for the 2026 race for governor.
The Riverside County Republican has made a name for bucking state policies, such as not enforcing a mandate for COVID-19 vaccinations for his staff. Yet Bianco is sympathetic to agriculture’s labor challenges. He said earlier this month he would not assist the Trump administration in immigration enforcement.
The more you know: Riverside County’s ag value is $1.5 billion. Nurseries are the top commodity, followed by dates, eggs, alfalfa and avocados.
Divided House Republicans set to move budget plan
House Republicans are moving forward with their proposed budget plan today, despite continued pushback from hardline conservatives. The draft budget resolution that the Budget Committee will debate today calls for $1.5 trillion in spending cuts and $4.5 trillion in tax cuts.
Take note: The House Agriculture Committee would be directed to cut $230 billion over 10 years. Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., tells Agri-Pulse that would require reducing SNAP benefits, but he doesn’t think the Senate would go along with a cut that size. Thompson says he wanted a lower number.
But, but, but: Some members of the House Freedom Caucus don’t think $1.5 trillion in cuts is enough. For example, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said he hopes to see another $500 billion in spending reductions added in committee.
Another Freedom Caucus member, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, wants to repeal most, if not all, of the Inflation Reduction Act, which could eliminate the new 45Z tax credit for biofuels. Norman acknowledged that members from biofuel-heavy districts are trying to protect those incentives.
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“Nothing’s been decided on that,” Norman said. “The bottom line: We got to get to 218 and if we just get the other in Medicaid [cuts], that will allow us to reach the goal.”
Take note: Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, said the biofuel caucus has made it clear to leadership that cutting biofuel and sustainable aviation fuel incentives included in the IRA could be a red line for its members.
Read our full report at Agri-Pulse.com.
Leavitt: Reciprocal tariff announcement due Thursday
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says Trump will unveil new reciprocal tariffs today ahead of a visit from the Indian prime minister.
Trump has said that a reciprocal tariff could see U.S. trade partners subjected to the same tariff rates that they apply on U.S. exports. “Very simply it’s if they charge us, we charge them,” he said last weekend.
Take note: Average U.S. tariffs on agriculture imports are lower than many of its trading partners. But Texas A&M University agricultural economist Luis Ribera tells Agri-Pulse that’s how the U.S. keeps food prices down.
“Food prices in the U.S. as a percentage of disposable income [are] very low,” Ribera says. “We're really good at producing the products that we're good at producing, and then the rest we import — and we import with very low or no tariffs at all.”
Senate Finance Committee advances Trump’s USTR pick
The Senate Finance Committee approved Jamieson Greer’s nomination for U.S. trade representative 15-12 on Wednesday.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, R.I., was the only Democrat to join the Republicans on the committee in voting for Greer. Greer served as chief of staff to USTR Robert Lighthizer in Trump’s first term. Ranking member Ron Wyden, Ore., and other committee Democrats said they fear Greer would “rubber stamp” Trump’s tariff proposals.
Agency watchdogs, including Fong, sue over firings
Fong is among eight inspectors general who are suing Trump and several agency heads over their termination. In the lawsuit, the IGs say their removal violated federal law, which requires the president to notify Congress at least 30 days prior to removal and provide a “substantive, case-specific rationale.”
Take note: Fong received an email from White House Presidential Personnel Office Director Sergio Gor alerting her of her termination on Jan. 25 due to “changing priorities.” However, she returned to work two days later and conducted several meetings “before USDA employees cut off her access to IT systems, took possession of her computer and phone, and deactivated her badge,” the lawsuit states.
It went on, "After 23 years of decorated service as USDA IG, she gathered her personal belongings and left the building."
Final word:
“I’m not a big fan, generally speaking, of tariffs.” — Rep. Jim Costa of Fresno. The moderate Democrat, representing a battleground district, took a measured approach to upcoming tariffs on U.S. neighbors. Speaking at a House Ag hearing, he pointed out that Canada is the top importer of California wine and Mexico of California milk. Farmers in the state are more concerned about water and labor than tariffs, he added.
