A disabled Wisconsin dairy farmer is suing the Biden administration over a COVID-19 loan forgiveness program - alleging it is racist because whites aren't eligible.
Adam Faust, a white resident of Chilton who has two prosthetic legs, is among five Midwestern farmers who recently filed a lawsuit in Green Bay that accuses the federal government of violating their constitutional rights, WLUK reported.
"Were plaintiffs eligible for the loan forgiveness benefit, they would have the opportunity to make additional investments in their property, expand their farms, purchase equipment and supplies, and otherwise support their families and local communities," the lawsuit states.
"Because plaintiffs are ineligible to even apply for the program solely due to their race, they have been denied the equal protection of the law and therefore suffered harm," it says.
Faust, owner of Faust Farms, told the news outlet that the program is "out and out racist."
The American Rescue Plan provides $4 billion to forgive loans for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, according to the lawsuit, which alleges that "socially disadvantaged" are only those who are black, American Indian, Hispanic, Alaskan native, Asian American or Pacific Islander, WLUK reported.
"I don't see where they're gonna be impacted any different than anybody else," said Faust, who was born with spina bifida.
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