What Happened?

Invasive pests and diseases have cost American farms and forests at least $550 billion over six decades, and climate change is making the threat worse. Yet the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has no plan to address it, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress's independent watchdog agency.

The GAO found the USDA shares information about climate-related pest risks with farmers and land managers but has not built those risks into any formal resilience strategy. The agency's own Climate Hubs, which research and forecast outbreak risks, have lost staff and face funding cuts.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

Federal crop insurance, which protects farmers when harvests fail, could face an additional $300 million to $2.2 billion in annual payments because of climate-driven changes, according to figures from the fiscal year 2024 President's Budget Analytical Perspectives. Those costs can ripple through to food prices and taxpayer-funded programs.

For farmers and forest managers, the gap means less guidance and fewer resources precisely when risks are growing. The GAO flagged threats including the southern pine beetle, which can devastate timber across wide regions.

Both Sides, Now

The GAO recommended two concrete steps: a nationwide assessment of climate-related pest and disease risks, and a formal strategy to manage whatever that assessment uncovers. Both recommendations remain open, meaning the USDA has not acted on either one.

The USDA did not submit a written response saying whether it agreed or disagreed with the recommendations. In late 2023, USDA officials acknowledged the planning gap and said the agency planned to address it in the future. When GAO followed up in April asking for updated information on staffing and funding cuts, the USDA did not respond.

Congress has not scheduled any hearing or vote tied to the GAO findings.

What Happens Next?

The GAO's recommendations carry no legal force on their own. The USDA can accept, reject, or simply ignore them. For the recommendations to move forward, the USDA would need to launch the nationwide assessment and publish a management strategy on its own, or Congress would need to direct or fund that work through legislation or oversight hearings.

There is no deadline attached to either recommendation, and no congressional action is currently scheduled.

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