| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Washington, DC |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent department | United States Department of Agriculture |
| Parent agency | USDA Rural Development |
| Website | rd.usda.gov/rural-utilities-service |
The United StatesRural Utilities Service (RUS) administers programs that provide infrastructure or infrastructure improvements torural communities. These include water and waste treatment, electric power, and telecommunications services.[2] It is an operating unit of theUSDA Rural Development agency of theUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA). It was created in 1935 as theRural Electrification Administration (REA), aNew Deal agency promoting rural electrification.
The RUS administers the following programs:
A total of 890 rural electric and 800 rural telecommunications utilities in 47 states,Puerto Rico, theVirgin Islands,Guam,the Marshall Islands, theNorthern Mariana Islands, and theFederated States of Micronesia have received financial assistance. Approximately 7,200 rural communities are served through financial assistance received from water and waste loans and grants.[3]
In 2023, RUS was in charge of the ReConnect Program; this Biden administration program is overseen by the Agriculture Department[4] to expand broadband Internet access to rural parts of America, including theMarshall Islands.
The RUS originated with the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), one of the agencies created under the New Deal in 1935 to promoterural electrification. The REA was created byexecutive order on May 11, 1935, by PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt.[5] Enacted the following year, theRural Electrification Act provided federal loans for the installation ofelectrical distribution systems to serverural areas of the United States.
In the 1930s, the U.S. lagged behind Europe in providing electricity to rural areas. In 1934, less than 11% of U.S. farms had electricity. That same year, in France and Germany, nearly 90% of farms had electricity.Backed by the 1936Rural Electrification Act the REA gave loans and other help to rural organizations setting up their own power systems and was one of theNew Deal's most successful programs.[6] By 1937, hundreds of new municipal power utilities were created nationwide. In 1939, 288,000 households had their electricity provided by rural electric cooperatives. Most of these electric co-ops had applied for and received loans from REA. By 1942, nearly 50% of US farms had electricity, and by 1952 almost all US farms had electricity.[7]
In 1949, the REA became authorized to provide loans to rural telephone cooperatives.[8]
Under theDepartment of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 the REA was absorbed by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS).[9]
| Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment | ||
| Under Secretary for Rural Development | ||
| Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services | ||
| Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety | ||
| Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics | ||
| Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs | ||
| Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation |
| |
| Office of the Chief Financial Officer | ||
*Reports directly to the secretary of agriculture | ||
