Remember the Biden years? Feels like a bad dream now, doesn’t it? For four years, it seemed like the administration woke up every morning asking, “How can we make life harder for actual Americans today?” We had job-killing vaccine mandates shoved down our throats, an economy crippled by runaway inflation that evaporated savings, and crazy environmental plans that threatened our energy independence and way of life. It was a masterclass in mismanagement.

And while hardworking Americans were getting squeezed, where was the focus? Sending billions overseas, rolling out the red carpet for illegal immigrants, and generally bending over backwards for everyone except the citizens paying the bills. Thankfully, those days are over. President Trump isn’t just talking about draining the swamp; he’s already started reversing some of the most egregious attacks on common sense and common decency launched by the previous administration.

Case in point: the Maude family out in South Dakota. Ever heard of them? Probably not, unless you follow the nitty-gritty of ranching disputes. But their story is a perfect snapshot of the bureaucratic nightmare Americans faced under Biden, and how Trump is working to fix it.

Remember When Owning Land Was Legal?

Meet Charles and Heather Maude. They aren’t DC insiders or coastal elites; they’re fifth-generation ranchers, part of a family that’s worked the land in Pennington County, South Dakota, for over a century – pausing only when duty called in World War II. Their roots run deep, raising cattle, farming acres near the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. As Heather Maude emotionally put it, their land is “the heart and soul of our place,” a legacy stretching back to 1910.

So, what heinous crime did this family commit to warrant the full force of the federal government coming down on them? They had a fence. A fence line bordering federal land that had basically been in the same place since the early 1900s, involving an “informal agreement” over about 25 acres used for grazing. A minor issue, right? Something neighbors usually sort out over coffee. But not for Biden’s Justice Department and USDA. Oh no. They conducted a survey, accused the Maudes of “theft of government property,” and brought the hammer down.

We’re talking federal criminal charges. Threats of serious jail time – so serious, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the Maudes “were told to find alternatives to raise their young children.” Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman even pointed out the absurdity of an armed federal agent showing up to press the issue, calling it an “unconstitutional effort to make felons out of farmers.” Over a fence line. Let that sink in.

Drain the Swamp? How About Just Defending Farmers?

This wasn’t just a mistake; it felt targeted. South Dakota’s Kristi Noem, now Homeland Security Secretary but governor at the time, personally tried to intervene. She wrote letters, she spoke directly to then-Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. His response? According to Noem, he “completely ignored our pleas for justice.” Apparently, defending a ranching family from bureaucratic overreach wasn’t high on his priority list. (Vilsack later offered a weak justification about “protecting public lands,” which rings pretty hollow when you consider the human cost.)

But elections have consequences, and thankfully, President Trump appointed people ready to act. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins didn’t mince words when announcing the charges against the Maudes were being dropped:

From ‘The Post Millennial’:

“Over-criminalization by the federal government is OVER. Regulation by prosecution is NO MORE!”

Rollins rightly called the Biden administration’s actions “politically motivated prosecution” and “egregious lawfare.” She compared the Maudes’ plight to the colonists facing British tyranny, calling the case “a fire bell in the night.” Standing with the visibly relieved Maude family, Rollins declared, “They will not be driven from their home, they will not be jailed, they will not be fined, and their children will grow up with the mother and the father they love.” That’s leadership.

Putting Bureaucrats Back in Their Box

This isn’t just about one family, either. Secretary Rollins made it clear this is a policy shift. She immediately ordered “that all USDA pursuits of other Americans in similar situations be immediately halted.” No more using minor disputes as an excuse for federal prosecution targeting landowners.

Furthermore, the USDA is launching a new portal on its website specifically for farmers and ranchers to report government overreach. It’s a signal that the department is shifting from an adversary to an advocate. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) is already talking about legislation to mandate mediation in these kinds of disputes, aiming to hold “every single bad actor in these federal agencies” accountable. The message is clear: the days of weaponizing federal agencies against the very people they’re supposed to serve are numbered under President Trump.

Key Takeaways:

• Biden admin unjustly targeted a ranching family over a minor land dispute.
• Trump administration dropped the bogus charges, correcting the political prosecution.
• This signals Trump’s broader fight against federal overreach and for citizens’ rights.

Sources: The Post Millennial, DTN Progressive Farmer