USDA Denies Discrimination against Black Farmers But Pays Out $1.25 Billion Anyway

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) denied allegations that it discriminated against African-American farmers as detailed in a class action lawsuit the farmers filed against the department, but the USDA has nonetheless agreed to pay those farmers $1.25 billion as part of a settlement agreement. While attorneys say settlement agreements frequently deny any wrongdoing, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said the denial of discrimination seemed exceptional given the amount of taxpayer money that will be paid through the settlement. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Attorney General Eric Holder reached the $1.25 billion settlement with the farmers in February. Congress approved the settlement last month, and President Barack Obama has said he will sign the deal...more

That's why they pay the settlement, so they can deny wrong doing or harm. The tax payers pay and the agency goes free. Been going on for years and no one seems to care.

Now if Congress would just take those settlement dollars out of the agencies' budgets, we might see some changes in performance.