ARLINGTON, Va. — As the political landscape in Washington continues to shift with a new Republican administration and Congress in place, FMI has reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the food industry through a clear, proactive policy strategy. In a newly published blog post, “A New Administration and New Congress Mean New Priorities,” Jennifer Hatcher, FMI’s Chief Public Policy Officer and SVP of Government and Member Relations, offers insight into how FMI is responding to the emerging legislative and regulatory environment.
Just over two months into the new term, the trifecta of Republican control—with President Trump back in the White House and the GOP holding narrow majorities in both the House and Senate—has already resulted in significant policy shifts from the previous administration. In response, the FMI Board of Directors used the Midwinter Executive Conference in January to reassess and update the organization’s federal policy priorities for 2025 and beyond.
Following a robust discussion, the Board identified 11 priority areas where FMI can have the most significant impact. These are:
- Economy: Inflation and 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,” Hatcher writes.
To build on the momentum from Midwinter, FMI’s Government Relations Committee convened in Washington, D.C., in early March. The in-person meeting brought together food industry leaders for an in-depth policy planning session focused on activating the priorities and deepening engagement with the new Congress and regulatory agencies. Participants also met with staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to share concerns and opportunities and heard from senior Trump administration officials on the policy outlook for the coming months.
Hatcher emphasizes that collaboration across the industry is essential to navigating this time of change. “Together, we are well-positioned to address the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead,” she concludes.
