The Labor Department warned on Oct. 8, 2025, that the Trump administration immigration crackdown has generated a risk of supply shock-induced food shortages. The warning came in an interim rule filed in the Federal Register on Oct. 2, the second day of the government shutdown. The agency described a current and imminent labor shortage in agriculture.

The document details an interim rule lowering the wages of temporary agricultural workers employed in the U.S. through the H-2A visa program. The rule change cuts required wages for foreign farm workers despite acknowledging that the immigration crackdown created labor shortages threatening the food supply. This creates a contradiction between policy goals.

The H-2A program allows agricultural employers to bring foreign workers to the U.S. for seasonal work when they cannot find domestic workers. About 370,000 H-2A workers were certified in fiscal year 2024. The program is essential for harvesting fruits, vegetables, and other crops that require intensive manual labor.

Trump immigration enforcement has deported agricultural workers and deterred others from seeking employment, even those with legal work authorization. ICE raids at farms and worksite enforcement have created fear in agricultural communities. Many workers with H-2A visas or work permits avoid showing up for jobs due to enforcement concerns.

The Labor Department acknowledged the labor shortage poses dangers to the nation food supply but responded by cutting wages rather than easing immigration enforcement. Lower wages will make it harder to attract workers, potentially worsening shortages. The wage cut appears designed to benefit agricultural employers rather than ensure food security.

Agricultural industry groups warned before Trump took office that mass deportations and aggressive worksite enforcement would devastate farms. The American Farm Bureau Federation estimated that removing unauthorized agricultural workers would reduce U.S. agricultural output by $30-$60 billion annually. The Oct. 8 warning confirms these predictions.

The warning came during the government shutdown when most Labor Department staff were furloughed. The rule change was filed despite the shutdown, suggesting it was prioritized by political leadership. Publishing it during the shutdown limited public comment opportunities and congressional oversight of the policy change.