A whistleblower has come forward, claiming that the Biden administration’s loan forgiveness plan for farmers discriminates against white farmers. This situation has drawn comparisons to the Pigford scandal from 2010, where similar allegations arose under the Obama administration, with Tom Vilsack serving as the Secretary of Agriculture in both cases.
The whistleblower, who spoke anonymously to NewsNation, revealed that the loan forgiveness program was designed to benefit only non-white farmers. According to the whistleblower, the program aimed to pay off loans for anyone who was not a white male, making race the primary qualification for assistance. The whistleblower expressed concern that officials were trying to keep this information quiet due to the racial implications involved.
Farmer James Dunlap echoed these sentiments, stating that such a program seemed to combat racism with more racism. He expressed disbelief that this was happening in today’s society.
The Pigford scandal originally arose from claims that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had discriminated against black farmers. The issue gained attention when Andrew Breitbart highlighted it, arguing that it had turned into a form of reparations. The initial settlement from the Clinton administration in the 1990s led to significant payouts, but later investigations revealed issues with fraudulent claims.
The New York Times reported in 2013 that the Obama administration had allocated substantial funds not just to the original plaintiffs but also to many who had never claimed discrimination. This raised concerns about the integrity of the claims process, where many applicants did not need to provide evidence of discrimination.
Now, with Vilsack back in charge, the USDA faces fresh allegations of racial bias in its loan forgiveness initiatives. As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how this will impact farmers and the broader agricultural community.