USDA to restore deleted climate pages after environmental lawsuit

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reversed course and agreed to restore content related to climate, conservation, and farm support tools that had previously been removed from its public websites. Many argued that this purge of information had hurt communities across the country by depriving farmers and researchers of the resources they need to make time-sensitive decisions and participate in highly consequential debates about USDA funding and policies related to climate change.

The reversal comes after a lawsuit filed by advocacy organizations Earthjustice and the Knight First Amendment Institute, in which they alleged the USDA unlawfully took down materials that helped farmers access conservation programs, prepare for changing weather patterns, and navigate federal support options. Many of the resources were tied to long-standing programs under the Natural Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Forest Service, including interactive tools and planning guides.

The removal effort came soon after President Donald Trump took office in January, when internal emails obtained by ABC News showed that USDA web managers were instructed to categorize and unpublish pages referencing climate change. Sites were sorted by how prominently they discussed the topic, with “Tier 1” pages — those fully focused on climate — targeted most aggressively by the administration. Other pages were marked Tier 2 and Tier 3.

It wasn’t long before entire sections were erased from both the NRCS and USFS websites, along with tools like the Climate Risk Viewer — an interactive portal with over 140 data layers designed to help users assess environmental risks and trends.

The USDA made its decision Monday evening, just days before an injunction motion was set to be heard in federal court. Groups involved in the lawsuit, including the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Environmental Working Group were quick to claim victory.

“The restoration of these webpages and tools marks a significant victory for the climate, the environment and farmers,” said Anne Schechinger, Midwest director for the Environmental Working Group. “The Trump administration’s reversal in response to this legal challenge highlights the critical importance of public interest advocates standing up in the name of transparency and government accountability.”

While agriculture accounts for roughly 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions — making it the smallest contributor among the Environmental Protection Agency’s five main sectors — rural producers have increasingly found themselves at the center of climate policy debates. With rising weather volatility, from floods and wildfires to prolonged drought, farmers across the political spectrum are calling for science-based support, not political theater.

The USDA filed notice in federal court that it would comply with federal transparency laws in the future. The agency expects the restoration process to be largely complete within two weeks.