Statement from Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on the Proposed FY 2018 Budget

Email: press@oc.usda.gov Statement from Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on the Proposed FY 2018 Budget (Washington, D.C., May 23, 2017) – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today issued the following statement on the proposed FY 2018 budget: “President Trump promised he would realign government spending, attempt to eliminate duplication or redundancy, and see that all government agencies are efficiently delivering services to the taxpayers of America. And that’s exactly what we are going to do at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). “Having been the governor of Georgia from 2003 to 2011 – not during the best economic times – we did what it took to get the job done, just like the people involved in every aspect of American agriculture do every single day. While the President’s budget fully funds nutrition programs, wildland fire suppression and food safety, and includes several new initiatives and increases for Rural Development, whatever form the final budget takes, it is my job as Secretary of Agriculture to manage and implement that plan, while still fulfilling the core mission of USDA,” said Secretary Perdue. Background: Earlier today, Secretary Perdue sent the following video message to all USDA employees: