A New Administration and New Congress Mean New Priorities

By Jennifer Hatcher, Chief Public Policy Officer and SVP, Government and Member Relations, FMI 

We’re just over two months into the trifecta of Republican governance with the Trump administration in the White House and Republicans in narrow control of both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in the new 119^th Congress. As we have already seen in just a short period of time, this has resulted in a significant shift in the policy landscape from the Biden era and presents both new opportunities and challenges for FMI and the broader food industry.​ 

It was no coincidence that, in January at FMI’s Midwinter Executive Conference, our Board of Directors convened to identify and adjust the industry's key policy priorities for 2025 and beyond. The top areas the Board determined FMI could have the most impact on the legislative and regulatory fronts for the food industry include (in alphabetical order): 

• Economy: Inflation/Food Prices
• Food Assistance Programs
• Food Safety: Traceability
• Labor: Workforce Supply and Regulatory Enforcement
• Nutrition & Ingredient Related Policies
• Organized Retail Crime, Fraud & Threats
• Payments/Swipe Fee Reform
• Pharmacy/PBM Reform
• Sustainability & Food Waste
• Tax Reform
• Trade & Tariffs 

While these priorities provide a strategic framework, they only tell part of the story and FMI's advocacy efforts extend even further. The government relations team remains actively engaged on multiple other fronts, including refrigeration regulations, food labeling, avian flu, estate tax repeal, privacy, EPR and much more. 

With the priorities established by the Board, FMI's Government Relations Committee gathered in Washington, D.C., in early March for a comprehensive policy discussion and planning session to strategize around ways to activate against these priorities and set the stage for proactive engagement with the new Congress and regulatory agencies. Attendees were also able to meet with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) staff to highlight key concerns and opportunities as well as hear from Trump administration officials on their approach going forward. 

FMI will continue to represent the food industry in Washington as issues new and old are debated in the halls of Congress and in the regulatory agencies, but we couldn’t do it without the support of our members. We thank FMI's Board of Directors, along with retailer, wholesaler, and product supplier members for your active participation to help us amplify our collective voice in Washington. Your insights, experiences, and dedication are invaluable as we navigate the evolving legislative landscape. Together, we are well-positioned to address the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.