USDA

Government & Politics abbreviation · US Federal Agency

USDA
Stands forUnited States Department of Agriculture
CategoriesGovernment & Politics

USDA stands for United States Department of Agriculture, a US federal agency abbreviation.

Supports farmers and ranchers, inspects meat and poultry, manages the national forests and administers food assistance such as SNAP, WIC and school meals, which account for most of its budget. The Secretary of Agriculture heads the department.

Example: The steaks carry a USDA Prime grade, the highest of the department's beef quality grades.

Usage notes

Abraham Lincoln signed the law creating it in May 1862 and called it "the people's department"; it gained cabinet rank in 1889. The USDA shield appears on organic labels, beef grades and the round inspection mark on packaged meat. It is pronounced letter by letter, U-S-D-A.

More US federal agency abbreviations

  • TVA – Tennessee Valley Authority
  • USACE – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • USAID – United States Agency for International Development
  • USAO – United States Attorney's Office
  • USBR – Bureau of Reclamation
  • USCIS – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
  • USFS – United States Forest Service
  • USFWS – United States Fish and Wildlife Service
  • USGS – United States Geological Survey
  • USITC – United States International Trade Commission
  • USMS – United States Marshals Service
  • USPHS – United States Public Health Service

See all 152 US federal agency abbreviations →