Washington, D.C. – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a controversial plan on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, to address potential labor shortages in the agricultural sector by encouraging 34 million “able-bodied adults” on Medicaid to take up farm work.
The proposal comes as part of the Trump administration’s broader push for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, including those working in agriculture, with a focus on transitioning to a “100% American workforce” supported by increased automation.
During a press conference covered by Reuters and Newsweek, Rollins responded to questions about President Donald Trump’s pledge to exempt farmers from some Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids while continuing mass deportations.
Rollins firmly stated, “There will be no amnesty.
The mass deportations continue, but in a strategic way.
And we move the workforce towards automation and 100% American participation, which again, with 34 million people, able-bodied adults on Medicaid, we should be able to do that fairly quickly.”
The comment has sparked significant debate, as the agricultural sector heavily relies on immigrant labor, with estimates suggesting 40-50% of farmworkers are undocumented, a figure Rollins contested during her January 2025 Senate confirmation hearing, stating, “We just don’t know.”
The proposal to replace these workers with Medicaid recipients has raised questions about feasibility, given the physically demanding nature of farm work and the lack of interest among domestic workers for such roles.
Agricultural Labor Challenges
The U.S. agricultural industry has faced persistent labor shortages, exacerbated by recent ICE raids targeting farms and food processing facilities in states like Nebraska, California, and New Mexico.
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Chris Hoffman warned that such actions “could have devastating consequences for our nation’s food security,” emphasizing that farmworkers are “the bedrock of our food supply chain.”
Farm groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, have called for reforms to the H-2A temporary agricultural worker visa program to address labor needs, describing the current system as “cumbersome, expensive, and fails to meet the year-round needs of modern agriculture.”
However, Rollins’ plan leans heavily on automation and domestic labor, specifically targeting Medicaid recipients, a group she and other Trump administration officials have previously argued should face stricter work requirements for benefits.
Rollins, sworn in as the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on February 13, 2025, has prioritized policies aimed at supporting American farmers and reducing reliance on foreign labor.
Her Farmers First Initiative, announced on May 19, 2025, in Nebraska, includes streamlining USDA processes, improving access to credit and land, and addressing labor shortages through visa reforms and automation.
In a joint opinion piece published in the New York Times on May 15, 2025, Rollins, alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, advocated for work requirements for welfare programs like SNAP and Medicaid.
They argued that such requirements would “prioritize the vulnerable, empower able-bodied individuals, help rebuild thriving communities, and protect the taxpayers.”
Criticism and Concerns
Critics, including farm organizations and lawmakers, have expressed skepticism about the practicality of Rollins’ proposal.
A post on X from @MorePerfectUS stated, “These are not jobs that Americans want to do.
This Administration does not understand the labor market.”
Pennsylvania farmers, like those represented by the state Farm Bureau, have noted that domestic workers often avoid agricultural jobs due to their physical demands and low wages, preferring office-based roles.
Democratic senators, such as Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, have raised concerns about the impact of mass deportations on agriculture, questioning whether the administration would target immigrant farmworkers.
Rollins has maintained her support for Trump’s immigration agenda while promising to work with Congress to modernize labor programs like H-2A to prevent farms from going out of business.
The proposal to shift Medicaid recipients into farm work comes amid broader policy changes, including a $1.2 trillion cut to programs like Medicaid and nutrition assistance as part of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Critics argue that these cuts, combined with the deportation of farmworkers, could disrupt food production and increase grocery prices, already strained by issues like bird flu outbreaks that have raised egg costs.
Rollins’ focus on automation as a long-term solution aligns with her broader vision to “modernize” the USDA, as outlined during her January 2025 Senate confirmation hearing.
However, the transition to automation requires significant investment and time, raising concerns about short-term labor gaps.
Secretary Brooke Rollins’ proposal to replace deported farmworkers with Medicaid recipients has ignited a firestorm of debate, highlighting the tension between immigration policy, agricultural needs, and welfare reform.
While the Trump administration pushes for a “100% American workforce,” the feasibility of this plan remains uncertain, with critics warning of potential disruptions to the food supply chain.
As the policy unfolds, its impact on farmers, workers, and consumers will be closely watched.
Also Read: Pro Trump Farmers Now Admit They Can’t Find American Workers
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