Senator Lankford Addresses Government Shutdown Threats, New Ag Tax Relief, and Stalled Farm Bill: In a recent interview with Farm Director KC Sheperd, Oklahoma Senator James Lankford provided a critical update from the nation’s capital, addressing a looming government shutdown, heated debates over border security, and vital economic news for Oklahoma’s agricultural producers.
Border Security and Shutdown Threats
The conversation began with the intense atmosphere currently gripping Washington. Senator Lankford described the situation as “nuts,” referencing a heated debate over Homeland Security funding that has escalated following a tragic shooting in Minnesota.
While six appropriation bills had previously been agreed upon by both parties, Lankford noted that House Democrats are now pushing to shut down the government in protest. The central point of contention involves funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including ICE, the Secret Service, and FEMA.
Lankford highlighted a specific demand from Democrats regarding the anonymity of federal agents. He explained that protesters have been photographing agents, posting their home addresses online (doxing), and intimidating their families. “Democrats are saying… they don’t want ICE agents or Border Patrol agents to wear a mask at all in any of their arrests,” Lankford said. He strongly opposed this, arguing that agents must be allowed to protect their identities from “mob protesters” who threaten their families at their private residences.
Immigration and Public Safety
Lankford also expressed frustration over sanctuary city policies, specifically in places like Minneapolis. He questioned why individuals who have illegally crossed the border and possess criminal records—including history of rape or murder—are being protected rather than deported.
“I don’t understand how we got to this point that you could hate President Trump so much I would even protect a criminal alien to be able to leave them in our community just to be able to spite him,” Lankford stated.
Tax Relief for Farmers and Ranchers
Shifting to economic news, Senator Lankford touted the benefits of the “Working Families Tax Cut Act,” which was passed last July. He outlined several key provisions that directly benefit the agricultural community and working families:
- No Tax on Tips or Overtime: Significant relief for service workers and hourly employees.
- Social Security: No tax on Social Security benefits for working seniors.
- Death Tax Reform: A permanent change to the estate tax, ensuring farms and ranches can be passed down to the next generation without being sold off to pay the government.
- Full Expensing: Farmers can now write off 100% of the cost of new equipment (such as tractors or trucks) in the year of purchase, rather than depreciating it over several years.
The Farm Bill and Trade Challenges
Regarding the long-awaited Farm Bill, Lankford admitted the legislation is not yet ready. While House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders are working toward a bipartisan agreement, Lankford estimates the bill may not be finalized until “the end of this fall”.
He identified input costs and trade policy as the two biggest hurdles currently facing producers. Lankford criticized the previous administration for failing to negotiate new trade deals for four years, leaving farmers reliant on unstable partners like China. He emphasized the work of U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer, who is actively seeking to open new markets—such as Australia for American beef—to provide more stability for U.S. growers.
A Message of Faith and Resilience
Senator Lankford concluded the interview with a personal word of spiritual encouragement for Oklahomans feeling the weight of current events. Lankford reminded listeners that “God is still God,” regardless of the political chaos.
“I read through this morning even Psalm 28 that says God’s voice is over the flood,” Lankford shared. “The description of that being it looks like chaos below, but God’s voice is bigger than the flood itself.”
He urged Oklahomans to remember that the nation has weathered difficult storms before and that resilience is part of the American character.
“We are Americans. That’s what we do. We do the hard things, and we do them well,” Lankford said. “We get through it, we prosper, we pass this on to the next generation.”
You can watch the full YouTube interview below:
