HR 1891119th CongressIn Committee

Moving H–2A to United States Department of Agriculture Act of 2025

Introduced: Mar 5, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Moving H-2A to United States Department of Agriculture Act of 2025 would shift the administration of the H-2A temporary agricultural guestworker program from the Department of Labor to the Department of Agriculture. It also changes a referenced agency role in law from the Attorney General to the Secretary of Homeland Security (consistent with broader DHS responsibilities for immigration processing). The amendments would take effect 60 days after enactment, and at that time the Department of Labor must transfer all personnel, funding, and materials necessary to move the H-2A program to USDA. In short, the bill realigns who runs the H-2A program to a department focused on agriculture and agriculture policy, rather than labor administration.

Key Points

1Transfers administration of the H-2A program from the Secretary of Labor to the Secretary of Agriculture.
2Replaces the Attorney General with the Secretary of Homeland Security in the relevant statutory reference (INA §218).
3Effective date: amendments take effect 60 days after enactment.
4Transfer mechanics: on the 60th day after enactment, the Secretary of Labor must provide to the Secretary of Agriculture the personnel, funding, and other materials needed to transfer H-2A administration.
5The bill is titled and cited as the Moving H-2A to United States Department of Agriculture Act of 2025 and is introduced in the House (H.R. 1891) and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- H-2A employers (agricultural producers) and H-2A workers: The program would be administered by USDA rather than DOL, potentially changing some processes, guidance, and enforcement priorities related to wages, working conditions, recruitment, and cap administration.Secondary group/area affected- Federal agencies: Department of Labor would wind down its H-2A responsibilities and transfer them to USDA; Department of Homeland Security would take on the referenced role per INA 218 (visa/immigration administration related to H-2A processing).- State and local labor agencies: Could see changes in coordination as federal program oversight shifts to a department with closer ties to agriculture.Additional impacts- Policy and administrative alignment: Closer integration of H-2A program oversight with broader agricultural policy, possibly affecting rulemaking, program guidance, and compliance mechanisms.- Budget and staffing implications: Requires funding and personnel transfers from DOL to USDA, with potential short-term administrative costs and longer-term budget planning considerations.- Worker protections and program implementation: The shift could influence how the program balances agricultural workforce needs with worker protections, enforcement, and compliance, depending on USDA’s implementation approach.

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