Basis for Inclusion: Deere & Company is a Freedom 250 “Key Partner” providing equipment activations at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall (June–July 2026), aligning the company with the Trump White House’s signature semiquincentennial celebration. This partnership exists alongside documented regulatory benefits (FTC right-to-repair lawsuit posture under Trump-appointed commissioners, tariff policy affecting competitors), significant federal contracting ($270M+ since 2002), and a high-profile DEI rollback under conservative political pressure — creating a pattern of corporate positioning that warrants public scrutiny.

Overview

Deere & Company (NYSE: DE), commonly known as John Deere, is an American manufacturer of agricultural, construction, and forestry equipment headquartered in Moline, Illinois. Founded in 1837, the company reported $7.2 billion in Q2 2026 revenue and $1.773 billion in quarterly net income. [DOCUMENTED — Deere & Company Q2 2026 Earnings Release, May 21, 2026]

John Deere holds a significant position in American agriculture and infrastructure. Approximately 80% of its U.S. complete goods are manufactured domestically, and roughly 75% of components used at U.S. facilities are sourced from U.S.-based suppliers. [DOCUMENTED — Deere Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript, May 21, 2026]

In 2026, John Deere became a “Key Partner” in Freedom 250’s Great American State Fair, the Trump administration’s signature semiquincentennial event on the National Mall, providing “immersive and interactive experiences that highlight innovation, craftsmanship, and American industry.” [DOCUMENTED — Freedom 250 press release; John Deere corporate communications]

Political Spending and Access

Freedom 250 Partnership

Freedom 250 is described as “the official public-private partnership” working with the “White House Task Force 250, federal agencies, and the Commission” to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary. John Deere’s partnership places the company at the center of the administration’s most visible public celebration. [DOCUMENTED — Freedom250.org, “About” page]

Company-sponsored activations at the Great American State Fair (June 25–July 10, 2026) include direct engagement opportunities where “attendees can engage directly with the technologies and equipment that help power America’s farms, infrastructure, and economy.” [DOCUMENTED — Freedom 250 press release]

PAC Contributions

The John Deere Political Action Committee (JDPAC) contributed $582,500 to federal candidates during the 2023–2024 election cycle:

• 74.68% ($435,000) to Republican candidates
• 25.32% ($147,500) to Democratic candidates
• Senate contributions: 100% Republican ($65,000)
• PAC-to-PAC contributions: 100% Republican ($15,000 to Scalise Leadership Fund and McCarthy Victory Fund)

[DOCUMENTED — OpenSecrets, FEC filings, Deere & Co PAC C00204099]

John Deere states it does not contribute corporate funds to federal candidates and does not pay for independent expenditures or electioneering communications. [DOCUMENTED — Deere.com, “U.S. Political Contributions and Advocacy”]

Lobbying

John Deere reported $70,000 per quarter in federal lobbying expenditures throughout 2025–2026, focused on:

• Right-to-repair monitoring
• Tariff and trade issues
• Permitting reform

[DOCUMENTED — PoliWealth lobbying filings database; federal disclosure records]

Government Contracts and Business

Federal Contracting

John Deere has received $270.2 million in federal contracts and grants since 2002, serving agencies including:

• Defense Logistics Agency — Indefinite Delivery Contract valued at up to $145 million (through 2028) for utility terrain vehicles, tractors, construction equipment
• Department of Agriculture — Farm equipment for research facilities
• Department of the Interior — Equipment for Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service
• Department of State — Equipment procurement
• GSA Multiple Award Schedules — Three active schedules with combined obligations exceeding $210 million

[DOCUMENTED — GovTribe, HigherGov, USAspending.gov, CapitolExposed]

Recent 2026 contract awards include motor graders for the Department of the Interior ($402K), utility vehicles for the Department of Justice ($211K), and road graders for the Department of Agriculture ($440K). [DOCUMENTED — PoliWealth federal contracts database]

Tariff Environment

The Trump administration’s tariff policies have created a complex environment for Deere:

• Section 232 steel/aluminum tariffs initially raised costs on imported equipment and components
• In June 2026, tariffs on imported agricultural equipment were reduced from 25% to 15%, with a further reduced 10% rate available for equipment containing 85%+ U.S.-made steel
• Deere recovered $272 million in tariff refunds following a February 2026 Supreme Court ruling invalidating IEEPA-based tariffs
• Net tariff exposure remains approximately $900 million for fiscal 2026

[DOCUMENTED — AgDaily, June 2026; Deere Q2 2026 Earnings Call; Supreme Court ruling, February 2026]

The tariff reduction on imported agricultural equipment benefits Deere’s domestic manufacturing position relative to foreign competitors who import finished equipment into the U.S. market. Deere’s 80% domestic manufacturing rate positions it favorably under the “85% U.S. steel” threshold for the lower 10% rate.

Regulatory and Enforcement Actions

FTC Right-to-Repair Lawsuit

In January 2025, the Federal Trade Commission, joined by the Illinois and Minnesota Attorneys General, sued John Deere for alleged monopolization of repair services by restricting access to its proprietary Service ADVISOR diagnostic software tool. The complaint alleges that Deere’s practices have:

• Driven up equipment repair costs for farmers
• Deprived farmers of the ability to make timely repairs
• Forced reliance on Deere’s authorized dealer network
• Boosted Deere’s multi-billion-dollar repair parts business

[DOCUMENTED — FTC Press Release, January 2025; U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois]

Trump-appointed FTC commissioners’ response: Andrew Ferguson (Trump’s FTC Chair nominee) and Melissa Holyoak dissented from the filing on procedural grounds, calling the timing “brazen partisanship” and indicating a preference for negotiated settlement. However, Ferguson acknowledged that “the right to repair one’s own equipment matters a great deal” and stated: “if the commission and Deere cannot reach such a settlement, then the courts will resolve the right to repair question here.” [DOCUMENTED — FTC Commissioner Dissenting Statement, January 2025]

As of June 2026, the lawsuit remains active. Deere has denied nearly every allegation and moved to dismiss, challenging the FTC’s constitutional authority. A Trump-appointed judge has allowed similar claims from a farmer class-action suit to proceed. [CREDIBLY REPORTED — Barn Raiser, June 2026]

DEI Rollback (2024)

In July 2024, following weeks of social media pressure from conservative activist Robby Starbuck, John Deere announced significant changes to its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives:

• No longer participating in or supporting “external social or cultural awareness parades, festivals, or events”
• Business Resource Groups refocused solely on “professional development, networking, mentoring and supporting talent recruitment”
• Audit of all company-mandated training materials to “ensure the absence of socially motivated messages”
• Public statement that “diversity quotas and pronoun identification have never been and are not company policy”

[DOCUMENTED — Deere & Company statement on X, July 2024; St. Louis Today reporting]

The DEI rollback followed Starbuck’s viral 9-minute video (5M+ views on X) criticizing Deere’s sponsorship of Pride Month events and internal DEI initiatives.

Lobbying Activity

John Deere’s federal lobbying consistently targets three areas:

1. Right-to-repair — Monitoring and engaging on legislation that would require equipment manufacturers to provide diagnostic tools to farmers and independent repair shops
2. Tariff and trade issues — Monitoring trade policy affecting agricultural equipment, components, and steel/aluminum inputs
3. Permitting reform — Monitoring regulatory changes affecting manufacturing and construction

The company also belongs to trade associations including the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which actively lobbied for the June 2026 tariff reduction on agricultural equipment. [DOCUMENTED — AEM public statement praising tariff reduction]

Revolving Door Connections

No direct revolving door appointments between John Deere leadership and the Trump administration have been publicly documented as of this profile’s creation. However, the company’s alignment with administration priorities — DEI rollback, Freedom 250 partnership, and FTC settlement posture — represents a pattern of political positioning.

Labor Issues

2021 UAW Strike

In October 2021, approximately 10,000 UAW members at John Deere facilities conducted a 34-day strike — the largest private-sector strike in the U.S. since the 2019 GM action. Workers secured:

• 10% first-year wage increase
• 5% raises in years three and five
• $8,500 signing bonus

The strike occurred during a record-profit year for Deere (net income up 84% year-over-year). [DOCUMENTED — UAW; multiple news sources; Wikipedia]

Mass Layoffs (2023–2026)

Since October 2023, John Deere has cut approximately 3,000+ U.S. manufacturing jobs across Iowa and Illinois facilities, citing a “weakened farm economy” and reduced customer demand:

• 2,167 jobs cut in 2024 across Waterloo, Davenport, Dubuque, Ankeny, Ottumwa, Moline, and East Moline
• 386+ jobs cut in Iowa in early 2025
• Additional layoffs announced through 2026

[DOCUMENTED — Iowa WARN filings; The Gazette; Food Tank; Investigate Midwest]

Simultaneously, Deere has announced plans to shift certain production lines from Iowa to new facilities in Mexico, particularly in the construction and forestry division. UAW Local 838 President Tim Cummings urged Deere to bring outsourced jobs “back to our factories.” [DOCUMENTED — KCRG; Food Tank; UAW statements]

The company states layoffs are “due to reduced demand for the products produced at these facilities” and are “not related to production moves.” [DOCUMENTED — Deere corporate spokesperson, The Gazette]

Conflict of Interest Analysis

The John Deere profile presents several areas warranting scrutiny:

1. Regulatory benefit from political alignment: The FTC right-to-repair lawsuit — filed under Biden — faces a Trump-appointed FTC chair who dissented from the filing and favors settlement. Deere’s Freedom 250 partnership and 75% Republican PAC spending occur alongside this regulatory posture favorable to the company.

1. Tariff policy alignment: While tariffs impose short-term costs on Deere (~$900M net for FY2026), the June 2026 tariff reduction on agricultural equipment and the “85% U.S. steel” preferential rate structurally benefits Deere (80% domestic manufacturing) relative to import competitors like Kubota and Mahindra.

1. DEI rollback as political signal: The company’s abandonment of DEI programs under conservative pressure — while simultaneously partnering with the Trump administration’s Freedom 250 — represents a pattern of political positioning on cultural issues important to the administration’s base.

1. Labor actions vs. political spending: Deere has cut 3,000+ U.S. jobs while maintaining a 75% Republican PAC allocation to the same lawmakers who have not acted on right-to-repair legislation that would benefit Deere’s farming customers.

1. Farm subsidy dependency: Deere’s customer base depends heavily on federal agricultural subsidies and crop insurance programs. Policy decisions benefiting large-scale farming operations directly support Deere’s equipment sales.

For Trump Supporters: Questions Worth Considering

• John Deere has cut 3,000+ jobs in Iowa and Illinois while moving some production to Mexico. Does a “Key Partnership” with the White House’s Freedom 250 celebration align with the administration’s stated commitment to keeping manufacturing jobs in America?
• The FTC sued Deere because farmers cannot repair their own equipment without expensive dealer visits. Trump-appointed FTC commissioners called for settlement rather than trial. Whose interests does settlement serve — farmers who need affordable repairs, or John Deere’s multi-billion-dollar parts business?
• If the administration reduced tariffs on agricultural equipment to help farmers, why does Deere’s stock price go up? Who actually benefits — farmers or shareholders?
• The original right-to-repair complaints came from Republican-leaning farming communities. Why has resolution been delayed?

Investigative Trails

• [ ] Track FTC v. Deere settlement negotiations and final resolution
• [ ] Monitor whether Deere receives additional tariff exemptions or preferential treatment
• [ ] Document Freedom 250 activation details and any additional government access provided
• [ ] Compare Deere’s Mexico production expansion timeline against U.S. layoff announcements
• [ ] Track whether right-to-repair legislation advances or stalls in current Congress
• [ ] Monitor JDPAC contributions to members of House and Senate Agriculture Committees
• [ ] Determine financial value of Freedom 250 partnership (sponsorship fee, in-kind equipment value)

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Investigative trail pointers (public records)

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Use public-records-research-specialist, corporate-intelligence-investigator, and public-corruption-ombudsman evidence tiers.

Sources

• Freedom 250 press release: “John Deere Joins Freedom 250 as Key Partner” — freedom250.org
• Deere & Company: “U.S. Political Contributions and Advocacy” — deere.com
• OpenSecrets: Deere & Co PAC (C00204099) — opensecrets.org
• FTC Press Release: “FTC, States Sue Deere & Company to Protect Farmers” — ftc.gov, January 2025
• FTC Commissioner Dissenting Statement: Ferguson and Holyoak — ftc.gov, January 2025
• Barn Raiser: “Right to Repair Gains Traction as John Deere Faces Trial” — barnraisingmedia.com, June 2026
• St. Louis Today: “Deere rolls back diversity, equity, inclusion initiatives after conservative backlash” — stltoday.com, July 2024
• GovTribe: Deere & Company federal contracts — govtribe.com
• HigherGov: Deere & Company awardee profile — highergov.com
• PoliWealth: DE lobbying filings and contracts — poliwealth.com
• Deere Q2 2026 Earnings Release — prnewswire.com, May 21, 2026
• AgDaily: “Farm equipment tariffs cut from 25% to 15%” — agdaily.com, June 2026
• Yahoo Finance: “Deere recovers $272M in tariff refunds” — finance.yahoo.com
• The Gazette: “More John Deere workers in the Quad Cities to be laid off” — thegazette.com
• Food Tank: “John Deere Cuts Thousands of U.S. Jobs While Expanding Operations in Mexico” — foodtank.com, June 2025
• WQAD: “4 years since John Deere strike” — wqad.com
• Wikipedia: “2021 John Deere strike”
• KIMT: “John Deere to partner with Freedom 250 for National Mall state fair” — kimt.com
• Deere.com: “Celebrating America’s 250th, the Deere Way”

This profile documents publicly available information about political spending and government actions. It does not allege illegality. If any claim requires correction, contact patriot.university with documentation.