NATIONAL GRANGE NEWS

Across America, we are seeing an alarming trend in policymaking – what I call the “slash and burn” approach. In an effort to cut costs, some leaders are gutting programs that support hardworking families, rural infrastructure, education, and agriculture. In the name of “efficiency,” communities are being stripped of essential resources and funding, leaving small towns and rural areas to fend for themselves.

Let me be clear: fiscal responsibility is important. Wasteful spending must be curbed, and government programs should be accountable to taxpayers. But reckless, across-the-board cuts without consideration for real-life consequences are not leadership – they are short-sighted, reactionary decisions that harm the very people they claim to serve and weaken the foundation of rural America.

The Cost of Cutting Without a Plan

Too often, rural America bears the brunt of these cuts. Programs that provide high-speed internet, rural healthcare access, agriculture research, and small business support are slashed with little thought to the long-term economic impact.

Consider proposed cuts to broadband expansion: Gutting funding for rural internet access doesn’t just save money – it puts a stranglehold on rural America. It means students will struggle to access education and complete assignments, farmers will be cut off from critical tools that help increase yield and market their goods, and local businesses will be unable to compete in a modern digital marketplace. That’s not “fiscal responsibility” – that’s setting rural America back by decades, pushing young families and businesses out of rural communities.

The same goes for cuts to agricultural programs. Farming isn’t just a business – it’s a way of life that feeds this nation. Slashing conservation programs, research funding, or cooperative extension services doesn’t “trim the fat” – it cripples family farms, undermining the very foundation of American food security.

Investing Smarter, Not Cutting Deeper

Instead of knee-jerk cuts, we need smart, strategic investment that ensures efficiency without abandoning communities. The National Grange has always believed in local solutions, self-reliance, and responsible governance – but we also know that government has a role in laying the foundation for rural success by building up these communities before it’s too late.

Rather than gutting rural healthcare, let’s reform existing policies to reduce administrative or overhead waste while expanding access to care. Rather than slashing funding for schools, let’s invest in vocational training, apprenticeships, and modernized rural education. Rather than cutting agriculture programs, let’s ensure funding prioritizes family farms and rural resilience.

“Slash and burn” cuts weaken rural America, but smart investments make it stronger. Creating the right policies and reforms won’t just prevent economic decline; they will create opportunity, growth, and the potential for prosperity, thus allowing rural communities to rely less on government funding in the long term.

The Grange Way: Strong Communities, Strong Nation

For almost 160 years, the Grange has stood for rural prosperity, community-driven solutions, and balanced leadership. We reject the idea that progress comes from tearing down – we believe in building up and giving every citizen the opportunity for success.

Slashing budgets without a plan is easy. Leading with vision, investing in people, and creating sustainable solutions is harder – but it’s the right path forward.

I urge our leaders to abandon the “slash and burn” mindset and instead commit to a measured, thoughtful approach that strengthens rural America rather than leaving it behind.

Equally, I urge those living in rural communities to demand policies that build up, not degrade, our communities. Demand support for policies and initiatives strengthening rural infrastructure, education, and agriculture.

Because when rural communities thrive, our entire nation is stronger.