Trump Administration Announces that the U.S. Government Has Dropped Criminal Charges Against Small Farmer/Rancher Maude Family

April 29, 2025 – (Washington, D.C., April 28, 2025) — The Trump Administration announced it has dropped all criminal charges against Charles and Heather Maude, South Dakota cattle and hog farmers who faced prosecution under the Biden Administration in what officials now describe as a “politically motivated” case. The charges stemmed from a longstanding dispute over 25 acres of land adjacent to the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands.

The Maude family, whose roots on the land date back to the early 1900s, had agreed to a federal land survey after concerns were raised by the U.S. Forest Service over fencing and planting near federal property. What was initially considered a routine civil matter quickly escalated into criminal charges, prompting fierce criticism from the Trump Administration.

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins called the charges part of a broader “witch hunt” against rural Americans. “Not in this America, not under President Trump,” she stated. Attorney General Pamela Bondi added that the Justice Department will redirect its focus toward violent crime and drug trafficking, vowing to end what she described as the “weaponization” of federal prosecutions.

The Maudes are scheduled to appear in Washington, D.C., on April 30 for a press conference, where the administration will detail ongoing efforts to protect farmers from regulatory overreach.