WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on Thursday announced the “Great American Cotton Plan,” a new U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative aimed at strengthening the cotton industry, expanding domestic textile manufacturing and increasing demand for products made with American-grown cotton.
According to the USDA, the initiative comes as cotton producers face a fifth consecutive year of negative financial returns because of rising production costs, foreign competition and increasing use of synthetic materials in textiles and clothing.
“Since 1607, cotton has helped build and sustain rural America,” Rollins said in a statement released Thursday. “The Trump Administration is committed to ensuring American cotton once again becomes the fiber of choice.”
The USDA said the plan includes efforts to promote American cotton products through a “Plant Not Plastic” initiative encouraging consumers to choose natural cotton fibers instead of synthetic petroleum-based materials such as polyester.
Federal officials said the initiative also aligns with the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda by promoting awareness about concerns related to microplastics and synthetic materials.
According to the USDA, cotton remains one of the nation’s most economically significant crops, with every $1 generated at the cotton farm level producing approximately $15 in economic activity across related industries.
However, the department said the industry continues facing major economic pressure. USDA forecasts estimate cotton producers could lose approximately $2.6 billion across 9 million planted acres during the upcoming crop year.
The USDA also reported the number of cotton gins in the United States has declined from 2,254 in 1980 to 446 today, while domestic textile manufacturing facilities have significantly decreased over the past two decades.
Under the new initiative, USDA plans to prioritize cotton processors and manufacturers through Rural Development loan programs and increase payment rates under the Economic Adjustment Assistance for Textile Mills program from 3 cents to 5 cents per pound of cotton processed.
The plan also includes expanded export efforts for American cotton, including trade initiatives involving Indonesia and Bangladesh, as well as continued support through federal export promotion programs.
Additional provisions focus on assisting cotton growers through expanded crop insurance tools, increased support prices under federal farm programs and ongoing agricultural research into cotton pests.
According to USDA, nearly 70% of textile fibers worldwide are now synthetic materials, most of them plastic-based products.
The department said it will continue working with growers, manufacturers, retailers and Congress to support the domestic cotton supply chain.
