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Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky) has voiced his disapproval of Congress’ decision to seek more than $11 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of supplemental funding for the Iran war.
Terming the move “ironic,” Massie, a Kentucky farmer himself, told The Hill that the war with Iran necessitated the bailout for farmers. The funds are intended to compensate farmers for the increased fuel and fertilizer prices caused by the war.
The outgoing lawmaker argued that the solution isn’t to allocate more funds to the war and the farmers, and then later, more funds to Iran and other industries affected by the war.
Instead, he suggested, “The solution is [to] stop the war.”
Farm Aid Highlights War’s Cost
Massie’s criticism of the additional funding request for the Agriculture Department underscores the economic impact of the war, not just on the defense budget, but also on other sectors like agriculture.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration asked Congress to approve nearly $11.1 billion in supplemental funding for the USDA, including $10 billion in temporary aid for 2026 crop producers and just over $1 billion for farmers affected by winter storms in late 2025 and early 2026.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins urged lawmakers to back the request, calling it a temporary measure to support farmers while the administration works to reduce long-term reliance on government assistance.
The Iran conflict has driven up fertilizer prices as military restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz disrupted a key global trade route. Between February and June, nitrogen fertilizer prices rose 23.5%, reaching some of the highest levels recorded in more than 50 years, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon also raised its official estimate for the cost of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran to $37.5 billion. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended a broader request for nearly $70 billion in supplemental war funding during a Senate hearing. The war’s cost has surged by $8.5 billion from the previous estimate of $29 billion released in May.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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This article Thomas Massie Slams Congress' $11 Billion USDA Bailout Fix for a Problem the Iran Conflict Created: 'Stop the War' originally appeared on Benzinga.com.
