[null and void]

Why “politely”?

I'd hope he's only being polite until the federal civil rights law suit is filed.

Besides the horrific financial penalties for his agency, aren't there personal liability penalties to any official who seeks to violate civil rights under color of authority? Including jail time and loss of any pensions, IIRC.

[Alberta's Child]

Besides the horrific financial penalties for his agency, aren't there personal liability penalties to any official who seeks to violate civil rights under color of authority? Including jail time and loss of any pensions, IIRC.

Not at all. There's no case to be made when Uncle Sam attaches strings to the money he gives you.

There's no reason why a USDA program like this should even exist. There's even less of a reason why any self-respecting charity would cater to Caesar's demands just to get its hands on Caesar's cash.