Farmers Accuse Gov’t Of ‘Overstepping’ Their Property Rights In Rural Battle Over Trump’s Nominations

August 24, 2026 11:26 AM ET Farmers in North Dakota said a federal rule put in place by former President Joe Biden’s administration violates their property rights and has caused them to suffer financially as Republican North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer threatened to hold President Donald Trump’s nominations over the rule. Farmers impacted by the policy say the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) policy prevents them from installing underground agricultural drainage tiles near protected federal easements, arguing it interferes with their property rights and causes them financial harm. The Trump administration backed out of its initial plans to rescind the policy on behalf of farmers, prompting Cramer’s plan to withhold “any and all” of Trump’s nominations until the administration agrees to change