'Can we have a conversation without being so rude?': Brooke Rollins, Angie Craig clash over SNAP benefits

Democratic Ranking Member Angie Craig grilled Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins over the state of the American farm economy and sweeping cuts to assistance programs at a House Agriculture Committee hearing on Thursday. As Representative Craig pressed Secretary Rollins on recent agricultural losses, the discussion took a confrontative turn with Rollins asking if it was necessary to be "so rude."

"Madam Secretary, do you know how many farms we lost in the United States last year?" Craig asked. When Rollins pointed to 315 farms moving through bankruptcy, the Minnesota Democrat cut her off, claiming that the country actually lost 15,000 operations. "I'm going to ask the questions here today, okay?" Craig asserted.

Craig then shifted focus to who bears responsibility for the economic pain of farmers, pointing out that diesel had spiked 95% over the past year. In her defense, Rollins attempted to blame the previous administration under Joe Biden for inflation. She was, however, cut short again by Craig, who asserted that Biden "is no longer the President of the United States." "Mr. Trump is. Your party controls Congress. You own these numbers at this point in time. I'm sick of hearing you blame an administration from a year and a half ago. You own every single bit of this," Craig scathed. 

As she repeatedly spoke over the Secretary during subsequent questioning regarding soaring fertilizer costs, an exhausted Rollins said, "Can we have a conversation without being so rude?" Continuing her criticism of the Trump administration's policies, Craig then shifted her focus to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). She accused Rollins of boasting about kicking four million people off the safety net program. Rollins responded by saying, "The ability to work, the righteousness of work is…we should be proud. That's the goal of these welfare programs."

Craig then challenged Rollins on the true scope of fraud within the program, asserting that "the USDA's own data found 1.6%" and called it "the lowest fraud rate of any program in America." Rollins countered that it is "based on data we're receiving from the states that we can't verify," and called Minnesota's numbers "an absolute joke."

As the clock ran down, Rollins criticized the proceedings. "You're not asking questions for an answer, you're asking questions to make a political statement. I would actually like to have a real conversation," she said. Craig used her final seconds to issue a warning about the agricultural landscape. "This administration needs to wake up and start understanding that family farmers are in need," she said.