This Week's Drought Summary (4/3)

This U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) week saw improvement in drought-related conditions across areas of the Intermountain West, High Plains, South, Upper Midwest, and Southeast. Meanwhile, conditions degraded on the map in the Southwest, Lower Midwest, and the Mid-Atlantic. Out West, a series of Pacific storms delivered significant rainfall to the lower elevation coastal areas and heavy mountain snow in the Klamath Mountains, Cascades, and Sierra Nevada ranges, as well as to the higher elevations of the Great Basin and the central and northern Rocky Mountains. In the coast ranges of Northern California, 7-day rainfall totals exceeded 10+ inches in some areas, according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service (NWS) California-Nevada River Forecast Center. The series of storms provided a late-season boost to mountain snowpack levels including in California, where the statewide snowpack (April 1) was 96% of normal, according to the California Department of Water Resources. In the Southwest, drought expanded and intensified across areas of southeastern and northeastern Arizona, northeastern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado, where snowpack levels are below normal in the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo ranges. In the South, southern Texas received record-breaking rainfall (12+ inches) leading to widespread improvements in drought-related conditions. In the Upper Midwest, an ice storm impacted northeastern Wisconsin and northern Michigan, leading to widespread power outages. Precipitation from the storm event led to improvements on the map in those areas. In parts of the Northeast, some improvements occurred in response to a combination of factors, including normal to above-normal precipitation (past 30-60 days), increased streamflows, and some recovery in groundwater levels. In the Southeast, short-term dryness expanded areas of drought from North Carolina to Georgia, while Florida saw some minor improvement in drought conditions in response to recent rainfall events.

In terms of reservoir storage in areas of the West, California’s reservoirs continue to be at or above historical averages for the date (April 1), with the state’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Shasta and Lake Oroville, at 113% and 121% of average, respectively. In the Southwest, as of March 31, Lake Powell is 32% full (55% of typical storage level), Lake Mead is 34% full (54% of average), and the total Lower Colorado system is 41% full (compared to 42% full at the same time last year), according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. In Arizona, the Salt River Project is reporting the Salt River system reservoirs 72% full, the Verde River system 53% full, and the total reservoir system 70% full (compared to 89% full one year ago). In New Mexico, the state’s largest reservoir along the Rio Grande is currently 14% full (30% of average). In the Pacific Northwest, Washington’s Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake is 81% full (148% of average for the date), Idaho’s American Falls Reservoir on the Snake River is 96% full (108% of average), and Hungry Horse Reservoir in northwestern Montana is 72% full (108% of average).

Northeast

On this week’s map, improvements were made in areas of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware in response to beneficial precipitation observed over the past 30-60 days. Conversely, short-term dryness and low streamflow levels led to the expansion of areas of drought in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. For the week, light precipitation accumulations (<1 inch liquid) were observed across the region and average temperatures were above normal, especially in the southern extent, where temperatures were 6 to 10 degrees F above normal. In terms of snowpack conditions, the NWS National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC) is reporting that the Northeast region is currently 33.2% (82.7% last month) covered by snow (area) with an average depth of 2.1 inches and a maximum depth of 43.3 inches.

Southeast

During the past week, light-to-moderate rainfall accumulations were observed across the region, with the heaviest accumulations (ranging from 2 to 4 inches) occurring in the Florida Panhandle, southern Florida, and northeastern Alabama. In response to the rainfall across Florida, areas of Severe Drought (D2) and Moderate Drought (D1) saw reductions on the map. Conversely, continued short-term dryness (1 to 3 inches of rainfall deficits during the past 30-day period) in Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia led to the expansion of Moderate Drought (D1) areas. In terms of average temperatures for the week, the entire region experienced above-normal temperatures, with the greatest anomalies (8 to 10+ degrees F) observed across Virginia and North Carolina.

South

Generally dry conditions prevailed across areas of the region including Oklahoma, western Texas, Arkansas, and southern Mississippi. Conversely, the Gulf Coast regions of Texas and Louisiana received very heavy rainfall in some areas (5 to 15 inches based on radar estimates), with the highest accumulations observed along the southern Gulf Coast region of Texas and the South Texas Plains. The deluge of rainfall led to life-threatening flooding and loss of lives. The rains also led to significant improvements in drought-related conditions, with multiple category improvements made on the map. In contrast, short-term dry conditions continued in Arkansas, although heavy rains are expected to impact the state over the next week. For the week, average temperatures were well above normal, with anomalies ranging from 4 to 10+ degrees F. Looking at reservoir conditions in Texas, statewide reservoirs are reported to be 75.3% full, with many reservoirs in the eastern part of the state in good condition, while numerous reservoirs in the western portion of the state continue to experience below-normal levels, according to Water for Texas (April 2).

Midwest

On this week’s map, widespread improvements were made in response to a significant ice and winter storm that impacted northeastern Wisconsin and northern Michigan. The storm caused widespread power outages, leading to state of emergency declarations in both states. Precipitation totals for the storm ranged from 2 to 4+ inches (liquid), with the highest totals logged in northern Michigan. Elsewhere in the region, 7-day precipitation ranged from 1 to 2 inch accumulations, while some areas—including northern Minnesota, northern Illinois, and eastern Iowa—were generally dry this past week. According to NWS NOHRSC, the Northern Great Lakes region is currently 44.4% snow covered, with an average depth of 3.5 inches and a maximum depth of 58.6 inches. For the week, average temperatures were above normal across most of the region, with anomalies ranging from 2 to 10 degrees F above normal, excluding northern Michigan and Wisconsin where temperature were 2 to 6 degrees F below normal.

High Plains

On this week’s map, only minor changes were made in the region, namely in western Nebraska and areas of Kansas. In the Sand Hills of Nebraska, precipitation during the past 7-day period (1 to 2 inches) led to 1-category improvements in areas of Severe (D2) and Extreme (D3) drought. In Kansas, short-term dry conditions (past 30-60 days) led to the expansion of isolated areas of drought in the southwestern and northeastern parts of the state. Generally dry conditions prevailed across much of the region for the week, with some small accumulations (0.5 to 1 inch liquid) observed in southern and eastern South Dakota, northern Nebraska, and southeastern Kansas. In terms of temperatures, near-normal average temperatures were logged across the region.

West

Out West, a series of Pacific storms delivered heavy rain to the lower elevations and snow to the higher elevations of the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. In the Lake Tahoe area, 7-day snowfall totals ranged from 1 to 2+ feet, while areas of the Klamath Mountains of northwestern California received totals up to 3 feet. Other mountain regions, including the Cascades of Oregon, the Wasatch and Uintas of Utah, and the northern Rockies, received accumulations ranging from 6 to 24 inches. Looking at the regional snowpack, the NRCS SNOTEL network is reporting (April 1) the following region-level (2-digit HUC) SWE levels: Pacific Northwest 104%, Missouri 98%, Upper Colorado 89%, Great Basin 103%, Lower Colorado 49%, and Rio Grande 49%. In the Desert Southwest, areas of Extreme Drought (D3) expanded in northeastern and southeastern Arizona in response to very low streamflows and below-normal precipitation since the beginning of the Water Year (Oct 1). In areas of southwestern and south-central Colorado, degradations were made on the map where snowpack conditions at numerous NRCS SNOTEL stations are reporting well below-normal SWE levels. Likewise, poor snowpack conditions have been observed in the mountain ranges of southern Utah, northern Arizona, and northern New Mexico.

Caribbean

No changes were made in Puerto Rico on this week’s map.

Surface high pressure dominating the tropical Atlantic contributed to breezy and windy conditions across the USVI during this most recent drought week (Wed, Mar 26-Tue, Apr 1, 2025). Trade-wind showers occurred early in the drought week, with precipitation coverage increasing later in the week as a pre-frontal trough approached the region from the northwest. No changes were made to the drought depictions for the three islands this week, as the USVI region is transitioning from its (climatological) dry season to its wet season.

In St. Croix, precipitation measurements ranged from 0.18-inch at VI-SC-24 (Christiansted 2.1 ENE) to 1.45 inches at VI-SC-20 (Frederiksted 1.7 ESE).

Intermediate rainfall amounts for the week included 0.51-inch at VI-SC-10 (Christiansted 1.6 E), 0.55-inch at VI-SC-25 (Christiansted 4.4 W), 0.64-inch at VI-SC-23 (Christiansted 6.5 W), 0.65-inch at VI-SC-30 (Christiansted 1.7 W), 0.72-inch at VI-SC-29 (Frederiksted 2.5 NNE), 1.14 inches at VI-SC-35 (Frederiksted 1.3 ENE), and 1.18 inches at VI-SC-34 (Frederiksted 1.9 NE).

Provisional data from the USGS Adventure 28 Well showed that until several days ago, the Depth to Water Level (feet below land surface) had been steadily declining throughout the month of March, from about 16.6 feet to 17.0 feet. On March 29-30, passing showers and/or thundershowers resulted in a spike in the well data time series that showed a very brief rise in groundwater level to 16.2 feet, before falling and settling around 16.7 feet at the end of the month, just as another round of precipitation moved into the region.

In St. John, rainfall totals for the drought week ranged from 0.27-inch at VI-SJ-4 (Cruz Bay 0.8 NE) to just under an inch (0.99-inch) at VI-SJ-10 (Cruz Bay 3.1 NNW). Several intermediate rainfall totals included 0.47-inch at VI-SJ-8 (Cruz Bay 7.4 E), 0.60-inch at VI-SJ-3 (Windswept Beach), and 0.96-inch at VI-SJ-5 (Cruz Bay 1.6 E).

For Windswept Beach, the total rainfall for 2024 was 70.02 inches, making it the third wettest year on record behind 2017 and 2010. The monthly rainfall totals for January, February, and March, 2025, were respectively: 1.52 inches, 2.16 inches, and 3.54 inches. In addition, March was both wet and very windy, with more than 60 percent of the monthly rainfall occurring on one day (March 14th). The Standardized Precipitation Index values for Windswept Beach for the 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12-month time scales were, respectively: +1.61, +0.60, +1.00, +1.05, and +1.55. This indicates wet conditions for all periods.

Provisional data from the USGS Susannaberg DPW-3 Well showed a gradual decline in wellwater level occurred during the month of March, starting around 8.4 feet (below the land surface) at the beginning of the month and ending near 9.7 feet. A brief break in the pattern occurred on March 13-14, when the wellwater level rose from 9.11 feet to 8.71 feet, before reassuming its declining trend. This coincided with a period of shower/thundershower activity.

In St. Thomas, rainfall measurements taken during this drought week ranged from 0.28-inch at VI-ST-14 (Nadir 0.3 E, Tropical Marine) to 1.07 inches at VI-ST-13 (Charlotte Amalie 1.2 NNW). A couple of other reports included 0.71-inch of rain at VI-ST-15 (Charlotte Amalie West 1.3 N) and 0.92-inch at VI-ST-5 (Charlotte Amalie West 4.2 WNW).

Provisional data from the USGS Grade School 3 Well showed groundwater levels ranged between 4.0 and 7.0 feet (below the land surface) during the month of March, with a value near 6.0 feet reported at month’s end. An abrupt rise in wellwater level occurred on March 13-15 (from 7.0 feet to 3.9 feet), before gradually subsiding to its present level. The abrupt rise in wellwater level in mid-March coincided with a period of shower/thundershower activity.

Pacific

No changes were made in Alaska on this week’s map.

In the Hawaiian Islands, generally stable conditions prevailed, with only light rainfall accumulations (<1 inch) observed across the state due to weakened trade winds. Some minor changes were made on the map, including the expansion of areas of Abnormally Dry (D0) across the windward side of the Big Island as well as in Molokai. In terms of impacts, streamflow activity across the state remains below normal levels, and on the Big Island, there have been several reports of low water supplies in rain catchment systems, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu.

During the past drought week (Wed-Tue, Mar 26-Apr 1, 2025), passing trade wind troughs and fragmented shear lines brought relatively light showers and breezy conditions to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). A weak disturbance south of the Republic of Palau helped to displace an area of trade wind convergence towards the Republic and the western Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), but rainfall was very limited for the week. Over the eastern FSM, a mesoscale convective system (MCS) and trade wind convergence brought heavy rainfall to parts of the region. Relatively dry trades prevailed across the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), with most stations falling far short of the 2-inch weekly rainfall threshold required to meet most water needs. South of the equator, American Samoa experienced showers and thunderstorms during portions of the drought week from two separate mid-level troughs that approached from the northeast. Excessive rainfall and flash flooding were not an issue this week, thanks in large part to the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) remaining well south of the islands.

Satellite-based rainfall estimates for the past 7 days (SPoRT IMERG) across the tropical western Pacific ranged from 0.0 to 2.0 inches (locally greater), with the more significant rainfall over the central and eastern FSM, and parts of the RMI. Approximately one inch of rain was indicated over the vicinity of American Samoa this week.

The Republic of Palau experienced a dry week (i.e. less than the 2-inch weekly minimum threshold to meet most water needs), with 0.21-inch of rain reported at Koror and 0.82-inch at the WSO Palau (Airai). As every month since April 2024 has been wet, drought-free conditions continue at Palau.

Across the FSM, Yap received 0.69-inch of rain this week, which fell well short of the weekly minimum rainfall requirement. The past 4 months have been dry. Yap’s drought depiction remains unchanged at D1(S) as the previous week’s amount of 2.96 inches of rain helped to offset additional degradation. Rainfall data was unavailable at Ulithi and Fananu this week, while no precipitation was reported at Woleai (3 days missing, but remains free of drought). Chuuk Lagoon reported 1.17 inches of precipitation this week. Although considered a “dry” week, this amount of rain combined with 10 of the past 12 months being wet, helped to maintain its drought-free designation. Drought-free conditions persist at Lukunor, which experienced a wet week (3.02 inches), and the last 4 months (Dec 2024-Mar 2025) have also been wet. North Fanif came in wet this week, with 2.63 inches of rain. Nukuoro also came in wet this week, registering over three times the weekly minimum requirement (6.38 inches). The past 6 weeks and past 7 months have also been wet, ensuring drought-free conditions will continue for a while. Kosrae and Pohnpei also came in wet this week, with 5.27 inches and 2.48 inches of rain, respectively. Both locations easily remain drought-free this week. Kapingamarangi received 3.58 inches of rain this past drought week. Monthly rainfall has been highly variable during the past 12 months. Its depiction remains unchanged at D0(S), though if next week is also wet, its depiction may be upgraded to drought-free. In contrast to the wet week for much of the central and eastern FSM, Pingelap came in dry this week (0.78-inch). Of the past 12 weeks, only one was wet (the week ending 18 March, with 3.28 inches). For now, its depiction remains unchanged at D0(S). If next week is dry, it would make three dry weeks in a row, and likely require a one-category degradation.

A dry week ensued across the CNMI (less than the 1-inch weekly minimum requirement) with precipitation totals ranging from a meager 0.13-inch of rain at Guam to 0.72-inch at the Saipan International Airport (IAP). In Guam, the week ending 4 March was the only wet week in the past 12 weeks (3.93 inches), with this rainfall total falling just short of the monthly minimum requirement of 4 inches. From June 2024-January 2025, each month was wet; though more recently, February and March 2025 were dry. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), which attempts to measure the amount of precipitation necessary to return the soil to full field capacity, breached 600 this week in Guam (zero represents a saturated soil and 800 an absolutely dry soil). For this week, Guam’s depiction remains unchanged at D0(S). Intermediate precipitation amounts for the CNMI include Tinian (0.18-inch), Dededo (0.22-inch), Saipan (AMME NPS, 0.22-inch), Agat (0.47-inch), and Rota (0.50-inch). Like Guam, the past 12 weeks in Rota have been mostly dry, with only the week ending on 4 March being wet (2.17 inches). Its depiction remains D0(S) this week. The last wet month in Saipan was in November 2024, when 6.14 inches of rain fell. Saipan’s depiction remains at D2(S) this week.

Across the RMI, weekly rainfall amounts ranged from zero inches at Wotje and Utirik to 2.51 inches at Mili. Wotje has been dry the past 12 weeks, and during the past 4 months (Dec 2024-Mar 2025). Its depiction remains at D1(S) this week, but conditions appear ripe for additional deterioration next week unless significant precipitation falls. Utirik received a scant 0.14-inch of rain in March, but retains its D1(S) depiction for now. In contrast, 6.20 inches of rain was measured at Mili in the month of March, though this still falls well short of the 8-inch monthly minimum requirement. Mili remains drought-free. Intermediate rainfall amounts of 0.22-inch was noted in Ailinglaplap, 1.14 inches in Kwajalein (most of which fell on the last day of the drought week), 1.30 inches in Majuro, and 1.45 inches in Jaluit. In Ailinglaplap, each month from May 2024 through December 2024 was wet, but so far in 2025, the first three months have been dry. Its drought depiction remains at D0(S). This same depiction of D0(S) continues for both Jaluit and Majuro. The latter location reported that nine of the past 12 months have been wet. Majuro’s reservoir contains 23.4 million gallons of freshwater (64.3 percent of capacity). In Kwajalein, the last 12 weeks (and the last 4 months) have been dry. Its current designation of D1(S) may require a one-category deterioration next week, if no significant rain falls before that.

South of the equator, Pago Pago in American Samoa reported a wet week with 2.86 inches of rain. The past 5 months have been wet, with 17.28 inches of rain being reported in March. The precipitation measurements at higher altitude sites include 1.16 inches at Toa Ridge and 1.00-inch at Siufaga Ridge. This week’s drought designation at Tutuila remains unchanged with drought-free conditions.

Looking Ahead

The NWS Weather Prediction Center (WPC) 7-Day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) calls for moderate-to-heavy precipitation accumulations ranging from 3 to 10+ inches (liquid) across areas of the South, Lower Midwest, and the Pacific Northwest (Washington), with the heaviest accumulations expected in the Middle Mississippi Valley and Ohio River Valley regions. Light-to-moderate accumulations are expected in areas of the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Upper Midwest, and central and southern Plains. In the central and southern Rocky Mountains, mountain snowfall is expected. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) 6-10-day Outlook calls for a moderate-to-high probability of above-normal temperatures across the Western U.S. and Plains, while below-normal temperatures are expected across the Midwest and Eastern Tier. In terms of precipitation, there is a moderate-to-high probability of below-normal precipitation across most of the West, Plains, South, and the Midwest. Elsewhere, above-normal precipitation is expected across the Eastern Seaboard and in the Pacific Northwest (Washington).

Crop Progress - State Stories

IDAHO: The average temperatures for March were normal to slightly above normal for the State. Warmer than average temperatures in the latter part of the month allowed early spring crop plantings to begin in the southwestern part of the State. Snowpack levels remained above normal in southern Idaho, with near-average levels in the north and eastern parts of the State. Rain during the latter part of the month stalled early spring plantings in northern Idaho. Spring tillage, potato and cereal crop plantings, and manure hauling occurred in southern Idaho. Pastures were greening up and growing. Alfalfa broke dormancy. In the eastern part of the State, field conditions remained too wet or cold to work fields, although lower elevations began drying out. Hay stocks were sufficient to last until pasture became available in the east. 

MONTANA: This report for Montana is for the entire month of March 2025. Topsoil moisture 22% very short, 24% short, 53% adequate, 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture 25% very short, 24% short, 51% adequate. Winter wheat condition 1% very poor, 9% poor, 32% fair, 58% good. Winter wheat wind damage 72% none, 21% light, 6% moderate, 1% heavy. Winter wheat freeze and drought damage 70% none, 20% light, 9% moderate, 1% heavy. Winter wheat protectiveness of snow cover 63% very poor, 15% poor, 11% fair, 11% good. Pasture and range condition 25% very poor, 37% poor, 37% fair, 1% good. Livestock grazing accessibility 87% open, 8% difficult, 5% closed. Cattle receiving supplemental feed 96% fed, 97% last year. Sheep receiving supplemental feed 94% fed, 99% last year. Cows calved 10%, 15% last year. Ewes lambed 5%, 12% last year. Barley planted 1%. Oats planted 1%. Winter wheat breaking dormancy 3%. March brought mostly above normal temperatures and limited precipitation. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor published for March 25, roughly 41 percent of the State was drought free, compared with 41 percent on February 27. Other drought categorizations included abnormally dry (D0) at 24 percent, moderate drought (D1) at 23 percent, severe drought (D2) at 10 percent, and extreme drought (D3) at 2 percent. Survey reports from Valley County indicated limited moisture at this point of the season. Survey reports from Wibaux County indicated very dry and windy along with limited snow cover. 

NEVADA: For the week ending March 30, 2025, days suitable for fieldwork 7.0. Topsoil moisture 5% very short, 80% short, 10% adequate, and 5% surplus. Subsoil moisture 5% very short, 25% short, 65% adequate, and 5% surplus. Pasture and range condition 15% very poor, 60% poor, 15% fair, 5% good, and 5% excellent. As of March 25, the US Drought Monitor showed that 66% of the State was not in a drought. There was some precipitation during the month, but not enough to fully recover from the dry spell at the beginning of the year. Temperatures were slightly higher than average at the end of the month. Despite the dry weather, fields were starting to green up. The Irrigation District announced full water allocations for this year and water orders have begun. 

OREGON: Rain was significant throughout the State. Clatsop and Tillamook Counties reported significant rain. Manure applications occurred under less than desirable conditions. There was no observed field planting. There was a lot of rain in Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, Wheeler, and Gilliam Counties. Pastures that burned last year started to green up fast. Wheat still looked small. Spraying was behind due to the rain. In Umatilla County, the outlook for most crops was reported as favorable. In Malheur County, field operations took place on a widespread basis. Onions, sugar beets, spring cereals, and potatoes were planted. Wheat was fertilized, and hayfields were harrowed or corrugated. Reservoirs were full or nearly full. Ranchers with spring calving herds reported average to below average mortality. Many began branding new calves. Some ranchers impacted by wildfires last summer looked for pastures to graze animals. 

UTAH: This report is for the month of March 2025. Topsoil moisture 18% very short, 31% short, 50% adequate, 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture 4% very short, 36% short, 60% adequate. Barley planted 1%. Winter wheat condition 9% very poor, 11% poor, 34% fair, 44% good, 2% excellent. Cows calved 20%, 23% 2024. Cattle receiving supplemental feed 85%, 75% 2024. Cattle condition 1% poor, 6% fair, 88% good, 5% excellent. Farm flock ewes lambed 14%, 21% 2024. Range flock ewes lambed 5%, 8% 2024. Sheep receiving supplemental feed 69%, 84% 2024. Sheep and lambs condition 1% poor, 13% fair, 85% good, 1% excellent. Hay and roughage supplies 1% very short, 7% short, 49% adequate, 43% surplus. Stock water supplies 1% very short, 11% short, 67% adequate, 21% surplus. March brought mild temperatures and above average precipitation to northern Utah, while most of the southern and eastern areas saw lower precipitation and mild temperatures. Topsoil moisture conditions increased from last month, with 51 percent rated adequate to surplus, compared with 71 percent adequate in February’s report. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for March 25, the State remains free from exceptional drought (D4) conditions. Extreme drought (D3) conditions were estimated at slightly above 4 percent, severe drought (D2) conditions were at 35 percent, moderate drought (D1) conditions were 38 percent, and abnormally dry (D0) conditions covered about 21 percent of Utah. Drought-free conditions calculated to about 2 percent. As of March 31, 2025, snowpack in Utah was 89 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. Beaver County reported some recent snow, but overall, still dry. Range conditions are fair to poor, but livestock are doing well. Box Elder County reported that planting continues, and some growers started fertilizer ahead of this week’s storm events. Fruit trees continue to be pruned, and with last week’s warmer weather, apricot trees started to bloom. Orchardists are concerned while the chance of frost remains for another month. Calving and lambing are progressing. Duchesne County reported unusually warm and dry weather which has producers worried about summer crops, but livestock is doing well with little supplement needed as they grazed on pasture most of the winter. Grand County reported as abnormally dry, and most cows have calved. Summit County reported a very mild winter, with some snow in the higher mountains, but the valleys are wet, and farmers started prepping fields. Calving is more than halfway done, and sheep shearing will begin soon. Washington County reported little rain or snow, and dry conditions persist with most stock ponds dry. 

WASHINGTON: The Statewide temperatures for March fluctuated between cooler temperatures with storms during the middle of the month and warmer temperatures toward the end of the month. Producers in central Washington saw little precipitation in the cropping areas of Yakima County. Orchard pruning occurred along with mowing and applying pest sprays. Apricots and peaches were in full bloom, while most cherries began blooming. Vegetable fields were tilled in preparation for planting. Hop yards were cleaned and tilled, and ground cover was seeded. Irrigation ditches were cleared of debris and weeds. The northeast region experienced cooler nights with some precipitation. Snow remained in the surrounding mountains. Snow mold was a concern in winter wheat. Calving continued in many areas. The southeast region received spring rains at a steady pace. This limited spring fieldwork, but the moisture was needed. 

WYOMING: This report for Wyoming is for the entire month of March 2025. Barley planted 15%. Cows calved 19%. Cattle death loss was rated 1% heavy, 30% average, 69% light. Ewes lambed 19%. Sheep shorn 19%. Sheep death loss was rated 21% average, 79% light. Topsoil moisture 37% very short, 31% short, 28% adequate, 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture 47% very short, 31% short, 21% adequate, 1 percent surplus. Winter wheat condition 21% very poor, 38% poor, 37% fair, 3% good, 1% excellent. Hay and roughage supplies 3% very short, 21% short, 68% adequate, 8% surplus. Livestock condition 9% poor, 20% fair, 66% good, 5% excellent. Stock water supplies 2% very short, 20% short, 75% adequate, 3% surplus. Pasture and range condition 29% very poor, 20% poor, 33% fair, 16% good, 2% excellent. Wyoming received relief from the ongoing drought conditions during the month of March. Precipitation was scattered and total accumulations varied, ranging from a trace to 10 inches across the State during the month of March, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Temperatures across the State were warmer than normal, ranging from 1 degree below average to 5 degrees above average during the month, according to the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC) climate maps for the month of March. Drought conditions improved in Wyoming during March according to the United States Drought Monitor report published for March 25, 2025. The amount of land rated drought free was 14 percent, up 10 percent from the report published February 25, 2025. The amount of land rated abnormally dry covered 20 percent of Wyoming, unchanged from February 25. Moderate drought was found in 34 percent of Wyoming, compared to 26 percent on February 25. Severe drought improved to 19 percent, compared to 34 percent on February 25. Extreme conditions improved to 13 percent, compared to 16 percent on February 25. Reports from Goshen and Niobrara Counties indicated dry conditions. Niobrara County reports noted having received some moisture over the weekend. Reports from Weston County indicated receiving some moisture recently, causing pastureland to start turning green with observed growth present.

Producer Sentiment Slips Due to Rising Policy Uncertainty

Weaker expectations for the future led to a decline in farmer sentiment in March as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index fell 12 points to a reading of 140, down from 152 a month earlier. Farmers’ view of the future was decidedly less optimistic in March than in February, as the Index of Future Expectations dipped to 144, which was 15 points lower than in February. A weaker Current Conditions Index, which dropped 5 points in March to 132, also contributed to the weakening in farmer sentiment. Falloffs in key crop prices since mid-February, combined with concerns about the future of agricultural trade and farm policy, were important factors behind the sentiment shift. Even with the decline in expectations for the future, farmers were still more optimistic about the future than the current situation, as the Future Expectations Index remained 12 points higher than the Current Conditions Index. The March barometer survey took place from March 10-14, 2025.

Coinciding with the weakness in farmer sentiment, the Farm Capital Investment Index declined 5 points in March to 54. Despite this month’s dip, March’s investment index was still the second-highest reading recorded since June 2021. The Farm Financial Performance Index also fell in March, dropping 8 points to 102. At a measurement of just above 100, the performance index suggests producers, on average, still expect their farm’s financial performance to slightly exceed the level from a year ago. The financial performance outlook was likely buttressed by expectations for strong financial performance among livestock operations, which helped offset weaker expectations for many crop farms.

The Short-Term Farmland Value Expectations Index, at a reading of 118 in March, was unchanged from a month earlier and just 6 points lower than a year ago. Except for late summer and early fall 2024, when pessimism reigned, the farmland index has fluctuated between 110 and 126 since early 2023, indicating that farmers remain cautiously optimistic that farmland values will hold steady or increase modestly in the year ahead.

U.S. farmers are concerned about the future of U.S. agricultural exports and trade policy. Since 2019, barometer surveys have included a question that asks producers about their expectations for U.S. agricultural exports over the next five years. Historically, exports have been an important source of demand for U.S. agricultural production, and strong exports have often been associated with strong farm incomes. In 2019 and 2020, producers were optimistic that exports would grow over the upcoming five years, but that optimism began to erode in 2021 and has continued to fall since that time. In March, producers’ expectations for U.S. exports in the next five years reached an all-time low in barometer surveys, with the percentage of producers who expect to see exports fall (30%) nearly matching the percentage of producers who expect to see exports rise.

Since late 2022, barometer surveys have periodically included a question that asks respondents which policies or programs will be most important to their farm in the next five years. Prior to the November 2024 election, farmers in our surveys reported that they were more concerned about interest rate policy than trade policy. Since the November election, concern about trade policy has skyrocketed, with 43% of respondents, on average, citing it as the most important policy or program affecting their farm. That compares to an average of 13% of farmers since the election who pointed to interest rate policy as most important.

Coinciding with concerns about trade policy and the impact on U.S. agricultural exports is the potential impact on farm income. The March survey included a question that asked farmers about their expectations regarding the likelihood that a program similar to 2019’s Market Facilitation Program (MFP) would be available to compensate for lower output prices attributable to a trade war. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents said they think a follow-up to 2019’s MFP program would be either “likely” (52%) or “very likely” (13%). In a related policy question, 74% of farmers in March said that passage of a new farm bill this year was either “very important” (49%) or “important” (25%) to them.

Wrapping Up

Weaker expectations for the future were key in pushing farmer sentiment lower in March. Weakening current conditions, which were largely attributable to lower crop prices, also contributed to the sentiment decline. The decline in farmer sentiment coincided with a softer outlook on making large investments in their farm operations, while producers’ outlook on farmland values in the year ahead was unchanged from a month earlier. Producers’ outlook for the future of U.S. agricultural exports reached an all-time low in March, and farmers reported that they think trade policy will be the most important policy affecting their farms in the next five years. Finally, a large majority of U.S. farmers expect a program similar to 2019’s MFP compensation program to be implemented in the event that a trade war leads to lower prices for agricultural products.

April 2025 Washington, D.C. Preview

Quick Fix — President Donald Trump told reporters April 2 will be "Liberation Day" for the American economy with a rush of new tariffs.   — GOP lawmakers are rushing to advance a budget plan, the next key step to unlocking Trump’s massive agenda through a party-line bill.   — The Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that will examine the constitutionality of the nation's first publicly funded religious charter school. Trade — President Donald Trump has promised April 2 will be “Liberation Day” for the American economy, thanks to new “reciprocal tariffs” his White House plans to unveil. “I call it Liberation Day in America. You're going to be seeing on April 2,” Trump told reporters at the White House last week. “And I think I've been very fair. I've had, I have them set, but I think I've been very fair to countries that have really abused us economically for many, many decades.”   White House officials have suggested the tariffs will be aimed primarily at roughly 10 to 15 countries that are the U.S.’s top trading partners and will take into account both tariff rates and non-tariff trade barriers to determine the new levies.   — But the administration still hasn't decided how high those duties will be. The final tariff rate is still fluid, according to three diplomats, who were briefed on European trade chief Maroš Šefčovič’s Tuesday meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and were granted anonymity to share details of the private briefing. The tariffs are expected to kick in at midnight on April 3, the people were told.   EU ambassadors to the U.S. were also told there is little they can do to avoid the tariffs going into force, which the Trump administration views as the beginning, not the end, of trade negotiations.   — Trump has also promised separate tariffs on five industries: steel and aluminum, automobiles, lumber, semiconductors and pharmaceutical products. The White House has already imposed a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum and on autos, but the rest of the “sectoral tariff” announcements could slip until later in April or beyond.   Other countries have vowed to retaliate, which could prompt further tit-for-tat responses from the Trump administration that could quickly spiral into a trade war. That has businesses, economists and many lawmakers bracing for a spike in inflation and other painful economic fall-out, at least in the near term. — Emily Cadei, Dan Desrochers and Doug Palmer Agriculture — Tariffs loom large: President Trump’s plan to impose levies on imports from U.S. trading partners starting April 2 is stoking anxiety among American farmers and producers and even some farm-state Republican lawmakers. The “reciprocal tariffs” come on the heels of Trump’s auto tariffs and duties on Canada and Mexico, which include a 10 percent tariff on the key fertilizer ingredient potash.   — USDA’s funding freezes: Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has said that she will release obligated money for three rural energy programs, largely funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, but with a catch. They are offering recipients the option to “voluntarily revise” their project plans to align with the Trump administration’s purge of DEI and climate “mandates.”   That’s left farmers and rural energy cooperatives confused and trying to determine whether they should risk reopening their contracts since USDA would then need to re-approve any changes. Some recipients have already been contacted by the agency and given 30 days to revise their plans if they wish. It's another clear sign of the administration's efforts to align Biden-era spending programs with its broader social policy goals. Meanwhile, billions of dollars in IRA funding for other USDA programs remain frozen.   — Reconciliation and farm bill: Republican lawmakers looking to advance a massive reconciliation package are now weighing whether to add some favored agriculture provisions like crop insurance and reference price updates, a move that would seem to suggest that they don’t believe a farm bill reauthorization can be completed this year. — Jordan Wolman Financial Services — Trump’s economy: The president faces mounting dissatisfaction over the economy as Americans grapple with anticipated price hikes linked to higher tariffs. Inflation accelerated in February — before most of the levies even took effect — and consumers are increasingly pessimistic about the labor market and prices. Wall Street is also flashing warning signs; Banks have slashed their projections for future economic growth and dialed up expectations for inflation. With new tariffs set to take effect this month — and additional taxes on imports under consideration — the markets will be looking at the April 4 jobs report and upcoming releases on consumer spending for any further signs of weakness.   — Moving fast: Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are racing to advance a range of priorities prior to a two-week recess that begins the week of April 14.   The House Financial Services Committee is set to vote April 2 on legislation that would create a regulatory framework for stablecoins, or digital tokens that are pegged to the dollar. The panel will also host hearings on HUD oversight, U.S. Treasury debt and proxy advisory firms, among other matters.   The Senate Banking Committee is expected to vote on several key financial regulatory nominees, including Jonathan Gould for Comptroller of the Currency, Luke Pettit for Assistant Treasury secretary and Marcus Molinaro for Federal Transit Administrator. Lawmakers are also hoping to advance to the Senate floor stablecoin legislation that the committee previously approved.   — CFPB’s new leader: The Senate is poised to vote on the nomination of Jonathan McKernan to lead the beleaguered Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. McKernan, a veteran regulator, would be taking over an agency that has been at the center of the Trump administration’s campaign to downsize the federal government. He was most recently in the Republican minority on the FDIC board, after stints as an adviser at the Treasury Department, the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Senate.   — SEC chair: Paul Atkins, Trump’s pick to lead the SEC, is primed for Senate confirmation. Atkins testified before the Banking Committee at the end of March at his long-awaited confirmation hearing. While some Democrats — namely, Sen. Elizabeth Warren — attacked him over his deep ties to Wall Street firms that were clients of his consultancy, Atkins appears bound for a smooth confirmation. Once in the building, expect him to move quickly to undo much of the legacy of his predecessor, Gary Gensler, in pursuing lighter-touch regulation. — Mark McQuillan Tax — The tax world will be monitoring whether House and Senate Republicans can sort out their plans for a budget that will set the table for moving sweeping tax legislation this year. Once they settle on the overall parameters of a plan, lawmakers can shift their focus to the all-important details of what’s in and what’s out of legislation aimed at heading off the expiration of a slew of tax breaks later this year.   — Lawmakers will continue to juggle Trump’s nominations, including former Rep. Billy Long, his pick to head up the IRS. Long’s nomination could be rocky given his career after he left Congress hawking a scandal-plagued tax credit to businesses. Ken Kies, who was named Trump’s pick for the top tax policy job at Treasury, is also awaiting confirmation.   — Many will be watching to see how tax-filing season goes in the wake of DOGE-inspired chaos at the IRS. The agency has already been through three commissioners while being wracked by sweeping staff reductions. More are expected, especially once tax season is over, and the Treasury Department too is facing the threat of significant reductions in its workforce. — Brian Faler Energy — Lawmakers weigh in on potential DOE cuts: Lawmakers from both parties are urging the Energy Department to drop proposals that would cut several energy projects funded by the Biden administration — arguing in part that it could run counter to Trump’s energy dominance agenda.   POLITICO first reported that the department is drafting a list of energy projects to submit to the White House for elimination as part of a wider review of whether they align with the Trump administration’s priorities.   — Among the competing lists circulating: one suggested cutting four hydrogen production hubs in mostly Democratic-leaning states while maintaining funding for three hubs spread across mostly red states. Two direct air capture hubs for carbon dioxide in Texas and Louisiana were also suggested as cuts.   Some Republicans are now making the case directly to the administration to protect the projects they support within their states, including those boosting carbon management and hydrogen.   It’s not clear which projects Energy Secretary Chris Wright will recommend for cutting, but the flurry of concern launched by the emergence of the lists has put the spotlight on the risk of collateral damage from Trump’s push to slash spending and dismantle the Biden-era climate policies. — Kelsey Tamborrino Employment and Immigration — Rounding into shape: The Labor Department is slowly filling out its senior political and policy personnel now that Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling have been sworn in.   With Chavez-DeRemer’s arrival, she and Sonderling — who had been working as a senior adviser at Labor since shortly after Trump took office — have been kicking Trump’s policy agenda into gear. Pro-employer groups have called on DOL to abandon its defense of Biden-era regulations, including overtime and fiduciary rules. House Education and Workforce Chair Tim Walberg has also urged the agency to scrap several rules from the previous administration.   — DEI battle kicks off: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission began the Trump administration’s push into attacking private sector employers over their diversity, equity and inclusion programs by penning letters to more than a dozen law firms inquiring about their existing practices.   Acting EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas’ letter was quickly followed by technical assistance documents released jointly with the Justice Department describing for employees how to identify and respond to “DEI-related discrimination” in the workplace.   The White House’s decision to renominate Lucas could signal that they want her to play a role in Trump’s broader battle to reverse DEI policies inside and outside of government. — Lawrence Ukenye Education — Religion in schools: The Supreme Court will weigh the fate of an Oklahoma religious charter school that has blurred the lines between church and state during oral arguments scheduled for April 30.   Conservative legal organizations and authorities in conservative-led states are urging justices to overturn an Oklahoma court ruling from last year that rejected plans to open the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.   That ruling was a critical step in efforts to create a test case that challenges the court’s conservative majority to weigh changes to its interpretation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause — and clarify the precise role charter schools play in the country’s education landscape.   Charter schools are public campuses that receive taxpayer dollars and don’t charge tuition, but they have significant autonomy to operate independently and privately — outside the bounds of some state and local regulations that apply to traditional public schools.   — Some religious liberty and school choice advocates have seized on that distinction to argue that charters are therefore not state actors and are instead private entities that do not act on behalf of the government. If that’s true, proponents argue, states would have to permit public religious charter schools.   Justice Amy Coney Barrett has recused herself from the case, meaning a decision must be reached by eight justices. — Juan Perez, Jr. Defense — Budget buildup: President Trump's first defense budget proposal isn't expected until May, but military commanders are making sure lawmakers know their priorities.   House and Senate defense panels have started a series of posture hearings with top four-star generals and admirals. These sessions will shed light on the military's most pressing spending priorities, along with issues top lawmakers may push in upcoming defense policy and spending legislation.   Congress will also be looking for hints about what programs could get axed as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seeks 8 percent in cuts from the military services to redirect funds toward the administration’s highest priorities.   — Joint Chiefs nominee up: Senators will also weigh retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine's nomination to be the next Joint Chiefs chair. Caine will testify at an Armed Service Committee confirmation hearing Tuesday, where he'll face pointed questions about his experience and concerns about politicization of the military given the abrupt firing this year of the former Joint Chiefs chair, Gen. C.Q. Brown.   Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) has signaled that Caine's confirmation will be a priority. Expect Republican leaders to try and quickly confirm him this month. — Connor O’Brien Health Care — Regulating AI in health care: So far, HHS is keeping the Food and Drug Administration staff that review technological devices and software, but it is eliminating much of the adjacent staff that supports those reviews. Last session, the FDA pushed for a bill that would clarify the agency’s ability to monitor AI products after they hit the market. There seems to be some support for that idea among lawmakers, but legislation has been elusive.   Also, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, which writes regulations for federally certified electronic health record platforms, has one of the only AI regulations requiring platforms to share information about the way their algorithms work. The office is small, but it plays a big role in ensuring that health systems and electronic-health-records companies don’t hoard health information.   — NIH integrity and contracts: The National Institutes of Health is expected to rescind its scientific integrity policy. While the change is being described as an effort to comply with Trump’s executive order aimed at curbing diversity, equity and inclusion, it will also rescind part of the policy designed to prevent political interference at government agencies. The political interference clause of the policy was strengthened under President Joe Biden following Trump administration efforts during the pandemic to influence the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.   Also, the NIH is being asked by DOGE to assess its contracts and identify 35 percent total cost reductions in coming weeks, people with knowledge of the plans tell POLITICO. They add that it’s possible this could put the big contracts NIH has, like its agreement with the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, in the cost-cutting crosshairs.   — Over-the-counter drugs: The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee holds a key hearing this week on FDA regulation of over-the-counter drugs. New FDA Commissioner Marty Makary signaled during his confirmation hearing that he'd like to see more prescription drugs become available OTC to ease price and insurance burdens on consumers. The agency is negotiating its first user-fee reauthorization package with the industry for OTC drugs, so the hearing could offer more insight into how those talks have gone and whether there are concerns over Congress meeting the Sept. 30 deadline to pass it. — Pro Health Care Team Transportation — Looking for “tens of billions”?: In the wake of January’s catastrophic passenger plane-helicopter crash above the Potomac River, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has homed in on two key issues: boosting air traffic controller hiring and rolling out a plan to upgrade their aging technology and infrastructure.   That plan, which Duffy has yet to release the specifics of, could soon be a major issue in Congress. The DOT chief says he plans to seek funding from lawmakers, potentially to the tune of “tens of billions” — even as Trump and Elon Musk pursue massive cuts to federal staffing and spending.   And Duffy wants to move fast: He has laid out an ambitious timeline of completing his project in about three years. He also wants Congress to provide the money “up front” to speed up the process.   He’s likely to find some receptive lawmakers, given the heightened attention on aviation safety following the PSA Airlines-Army Black Hawk collision, which killed 67 people. But muscling anything through a divided Congress can be a tall order. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, previously told POLITICO that “the answer has to be a lot more than just money. We need fundamental reform. Just shoveling billions of dollars at the problem has not worked in the past.”   — The details remain hazy: Some key lawmakers who oversee DOT, including Cruz, recently said they had yet to see Duffy’s plan. And an exact price tag remains unknown, even to Duffy, who told a conference of airport executives on Thursday that he has an idea of what the total cost may be, but isn’t completely sure for now. Earlier in the month, Duffy at a news conference said the upgraded air traffic control system will move from copper wires to a combination of “fiber, wireless and satellite” and will implement new “state-of-the-art” radar, as well as upgraded terminals for controllers. He also pledged to deploy ground sensors at airports so controllers have an easier time tracking planes and can “better control their movement.”   — A role for Musk: Duffy has repeatedly expressed interest in having private companies come in to help the FAA deduce how it can quickly upgrade aging systems, including engineers from Musk’s SpaceX. So far, the agency is testing Musk’s Starlink satellite terminals on a limited basis, but that’s not to say there isn’t room for growth across the federal government to fill in communication technology shortfalls.   News of such potential expansion has irked lawmakers, Democrats in particular, who note that Musk’s involvement as both a top presidential adviser and major federal contractor poses a potentially massive conflict of interest.   — Big picture: Aviation interests — airlines in particular — have championed the recent effort to boost air traffic control hiring as well as pursue modernization, and have urged DOT to act fast. — Sam Ogozalek and Oriana Pawlyk Technology — TikTok: Trump’s self-imposed 75-day pause on enforcing a federal TikTok ban lifts April 5.   The White House is seriously weighing a deal with Oracle to run TikTok’s U.S. entity and oversee data security for its 170 million American users, in an arrangement that sounds a lot like the two companies’ existing “Project Texas”partnership to silo U.S. user data. A potential dealbreaker is that Beijing-based parent company ByteDance could also retain a stake and keep the algorithm in China, which security hawks and lawyers argue violates Congress’ mandate for full divestiture. So far though, backlash has been limited, with House China Select Chair John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) and Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) driving the resistance.   — Trump has repeatedly said he will push the deadline if more time is needed for a sale to come together. Members of his administration, including Vice President JD Vance who has been tasked with brokering the deal, have started expressing confidence they will meet the April 5 target while setting a low bar. Don’t expect fireworks; Vance aims to announce a “high-level” framework without all the paperwork in place. That has created much uncertainty over what happens in the interim, whether another order, an extension, or other form of grace period.   There’s also the issue of Beijing’s approval, which Trump has confirmed will be necessary. The fate of the deal could hinge in part on how the countries handle (or don’t handle) thorny negotiations over trade and foreign policy priorities. Trump for one, raised the idea of using this month’s planned tariff hikes as a bargaining chip, suggesting China could get a reduction if it seals the TikTok deal. China reportedly shut down his offer.   — Artificial intelligence: The House may advance a bill this month to criminalize nonconsensual AI-generated deepfake porn. The legislation — known formally as the TAKE IT DOWN Act passed the Senate by unanimous consent in February. Trump and first lady Melania Trump publicly backed it.   The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is reviewing more than 8,700 recommendations for the AI Action Plan. Newly confirmed OSTP director Michael Kratsios will have to navigate issues like data protections, job displacement and AI energy consumption as the office crafts the administration’s AI stances.   Some of the most dynamic AI legislation is moving in the states. In California, state senator Scott Wiener’s pared-down legislation to protect whistleblowers working on certain AI models and build a public computing cluster called “CalCompute” advanced to the state Senate Judiciary committee in late March.   — The future of AI-related export controls targeting China is still up in the air as the administration deliberates how to chart its course. On his first day in office, Trump signed a sweeping executive order on trade directing the Commerce and State Departments to review the current U.S. export control regime. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been tasked with gathering input from key agencies and delivering a report with recommendations to the White House by April 1.   Comments are open through April for the AI Diffusion Framework, which the Biden administration put in place in its last days in office. The interim final rule sorts the world into three tiers for the export of chips needed to train advanced AI; chipmakers like Nvidia and U.S. allies designated as Tier 2 including Portugal, Poland and Israel have pushed back on the rule. — Telecom: A bipartisan group of senators is also expected in the near future to offer legislation that would sunset tech’s liability shield — Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act — within two years.   Also, the Supreme Court is expected to announce a ruling on the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund,which offers Internet and other services to underserved communities. During oral arguments in late March, the court’s conservative bloc seemed skeptical in a case that could have much broader implications for federal agency authority.   — Antitrust: The Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust case against Meta gets its long-awaited day in court on April 14. The agency seeks to prove that Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were anticompetitive — and if successful, it could force Meta to spin off one or both of the apps.   Although the FTC case against Meta began at the tail end of the first Trump administration, it proceeded largely under former FTC Chair Lina Khan, whose successor Andrew Ferguson has largely rejected her aggressive approach to antitrust enforcement. Observers expect this month’s trial to provide greater insight into how Ferguson will enforce antitrust laws against Big Tech, as well as his views on competition policy more broadly.   Trump’s influence could also loom unusually large. While the FTC has historically operated independently of White House influence, the president’s abrupt firing of both Democratic commissioners earlier this month has thrown that tradition into question. Meta has recently worked to ingratiate itself with the Trump administration and Republicans, and some observers believe Trump could direct the FTC to pull its punches or even abandon the case entirely.   In Congress, lawmakers may move on the One Agency Act introduced by Rep. Ben Cline(R-Va.) that would consolidate federal antitrust enforcement under the Justice Department. The House Judiciary Committee advanced the bill last Congress, but it fizzled. — Anthony Adragna, Mohar Chatterjee, Christine Mui and Brendan Bordelon Cybersecurity — Cutting cyber personnel and adding new leaders: As April kicks off, Congress is zeroing in on issues such as state and local cybersecurity needs as potential new federal government cuts loom.   At the White House, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency is set to continue its efforts to reduce federal spending, which could hit a wide range of agencies including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. More than 130 members of CISA personnel were already laid off under DOGE changes, and more cuts are expected. Also, keep an eye on the completion of a review of CISA’s election security efforts, which the Department of Homeland Security is carrying out amid a pause to all election security programs.   On Capitol Hill, the House Homeland Security Committee will kick off the month by holding a hearing on the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, administered by CISA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is set to expire in September without Congressional action. In addition, the Senate is still working its way through new Trump administration nominees. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has yet to schedule hearings for Sean Plankey, nominated to lead CISA, or for Sean Cairncross, nominated as the next national cyber director.   Rounding out the month, cyber experts and government officials alike will assemble in San Francisco over four days for the annual RSA Conference. While the exact officials have not been announced, expect to hear from at least a few leading Trump administration officials, along with recent past leads from agencies including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the National Security Agency and more. — Maggie Miller