While Trump mocks the idea of climate change, the USDA bails out livestock producers for losses due to climate chaos

Are you a member of the media interested in covering this story? Contact Crystal Heath at cheath@ourhonor.org for more information.

New documents obtained by Our Honor via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request reveal that US taxpayers are forced to spend millions bailing out livestock producers for the deaths of their animals due to the effects of climate chaos and predation.

In his recent UN address, Donald Trump angrily claimed that “radicalized environmentalists” wanted “no more cows … I guess they want to kill all the cows.” But in reality, the U.S. government is already underwriting precisely those losses — with taxpayer dollars — through the USDA’s Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).

Our Honor’s FOIA-obtained records show millions in payouts for deaths attributed to extreme heat, storms, and other climate-driven causes.

Total Payments

2024 - $1,705,473.57

2023- $1,156,257.00

2022 - $340,092.00

2021 - $603,579.00

2020 - $730,184.84

2019 - $2,863,191.04

2018 - $3,337,353.97

Total Animal Deaths

2024 - 6,091,197

2023 - 1,676,284

2022 - 1,030,140

2021 - 1,079,165

2020 - 673,430

2019 - 1,452,071

2018 - 7,140,612

2017 - 3,032,122

See the complete FOIA documents here:

spreadsheet 1

spreadsheet 2

Original Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated August 29, 2025


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