Press Release

March 31, 2026

USDA Announces Halt in REAP Grants

WASHINGTON — The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it will not be opening the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to issue new grant awards until it provides updated guidance addressing anti-renewable energy policies published over six months ago via executive order. In addition, USDA is not processing REAP applications that were submitted while its application portal remained open.  

Since the 2014 Farm Bill, REAP has leveraged more than $10 billion in private investment in rural economies, increasing rural economic development, and growing new opportunities for rural small businesses and agricultural producers. Read more about the REAP program and its successes here.

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Statement from Matt Ohloff, ELPC Policy Advocate: 

“As the nation struggles with rising energy costs, USDA just announced its failure to implement an existing program specifically designed to help farmers and rural small businesses save on energy costs. REAP is a popular program that has received bipartisan support for over twenty years and has a long track record of success. Failing to implement this program is only creating more hardship and uncertainty for farmers and rural small businesses.”