Iowa Wins Big Under President Trump: Lower Taxes, New Investment, and Stronger Rural Communities

 

President Donald J. Trump returns to Iowa today to highlight a clear record of results for workers, families, seniors, farmers, and rural communities. Under President Trump and Republican leadership, Iowans are seeing historic tax relief, major private investment, stronger rural healthcare, and direct support for the producers who feed the country.

Delivering Historic Tax Relief for Iowans President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts are delivering real relief to Hawkeye State workers, families, farmers, and seniors. No Tax on Social Security: Approximately 600,000 Iowa seniors benefit from the new senior deduction, with the average senior expected to pay zero federal taxes on Social Security benefits. Bigger Refunds: Iowa taxpayers saw average refunds of $3,365 in 2026. Protecting Jobs and Wages: The Working Families Tax Cuts safeguarded 57,000 Iowa jobs, $10 billion in state GDP, and $5 billion in workers’ wages. Lowering Taxes for Family Farms: The Working Families Tax Cuts made the increased death tax exemption permanent and indexed it for inflation, helping keep generational farms in the family. The package also made 100% expensing permanent, doubled the Section 179 limit, made the 20% small business deduction permanent, expanded crop insurance, and increased reference prices for the first time in over a decade. Expanding Workforce Grants: In August 2026, the Trump Administration approved the nation’s first Workforce Pell Grant program, allowing students at Iowa Central Community College to use Pell dollars for the Emergency Medical Technician program.

Standing with Iowa Farmers and Producers President Trump’s America First agenda is delivering direct support, lower costs, and expanded markets to the farmers and producers who feed the country. Year-Round E15 and Stronger Biofuels: In 2025, the Trump Administration cleared summer sales of E15 nationwide, waived all federal barriers to E10, and implemented the highest-ever renewable fuel volume requirements. Historic Production: In 2025, Iowa farmers posted the state’s second-highest corn yield, a record corn production (2.77 billion bushels), a record soybean yield, and its third-highest soybean production. Direct Relief: USDA has delivered more than $833 million to 57,000 Iowa farmers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program and more than $867 million in Farmer Bridge Assistance payments. The Trump Administration also announced an $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief program to help address temporary higher input costs and market disruptions. Reducing Costs: President Trump suspended certain phosphate fertilizer duties, designated phosphate and potash as critical minerals, extended a Jones Act waiver to improve fertilizer logistics, and launched the $500 million FIELDS Program to expand domestic fertilizer production. The Administration also temporarily allowed off-road dyed diesel for highway use and deferred the federal excise tax to lower fuel costs. Expanding Market Access: Ethanol exports reached a record high in 2025, up 13% from the year prior and 18% since President Trump returned to office, while U.S. food and agricultural exports have risen under expanded global market access. Cutting Red Tape: President Trump’s “Right to Repair” effort allows farmers to lawfully repair their equipment, saving thousands of dollars per repair. The Administration also fixed diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) system issues that were forcing farm equipment and trucks to derate or shut down.

Strengthening Rural Healthcare Across Iowa President Trump is directing targeted resources to expand access and modernize care in Iowa’s rural communities. Rural Health Transformation: Iowa secured $209 million in first-year funding through the Working Families Tax Cuts’ Rural Health Transformation Program to expand clinical services, strengthen the rural health workforce, modernize technology and infrastructure, and improve coordination. Modernizing Local Facilities: Funding from the program is supporting upgrades that include an MRI at Lucas County Health Center, a PET/CT system and new providers at Mahaska Health, a robotic bronchoscopy system at North Iowa Medical Center, expanded prenatal care at Sioux Center Health, a new CT scanner at Washington County Hospital, and a radiation oncology center at Wayne County Hospital.

Unleashing Private Investment and High-Quality Jobs President Trump’s pro-growth, America First agenda is driving major private investment and job creation across Iowa. Mesabi Metallics announced a $15 billion investment to build a major steelmaking complex in Lee County, creating thousands of construction jobs and at least 1,750 permanent positions. John Deere announced a $20 billion U.S. investment, including new high-horsepower tractor assembly lines at its Waterloo plant. Google announced a $7 billion investment in cloud and Super Intelligence infrastructure in Iowa, including a new data center in Cedar Rapids and expansion in Council Bluffs. Kraft Heinz announced a $3 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing operations, including its Davenport distribution center. JBS USA announced a $135 million investment in a production facility in Perry, expected to create hundreds of jobs. Electrical Power Products announced a $42 million expansion of its engineered-to-order electrical power control and protection systems manufacturing facility in Des Moines, creating 200 jobs. Greater Machining and Manufacturing announced a $16 million expansion in Independence, creating 100 jobs. Webster City Custom Meats announced a $2.5 million expansion of its meat processing facility in Webster City. S&J Tube announced a $2.4 million expansion in Wapello. Protecting Ratepayers: Under President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, data center developers partnering with Alliant Energy, including QTS, must cover 100% of the energy and infrastructure costs for their facilities while supporting a five-year rate freeze for Iowans. Restarting Duane Arnold: The Trump Administration announced a loan of up to $1.9 billion to NextEra to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center, bringing Iowa’s only nuclear plant back online with 615 megawatts of baseload power — enough for nearly 500,000 homes.

Honoring and Supporting Iowa Veterans President Trump is delivering targeted resources that strengthen care, housing stability, and prevention services for the veterans who have served our country. In October 2026, the VA awarded funding to Iowa community organizations providing suicide prevention services to veterans. In February 2026, the Iowa City VA Health Care System announced infrastructure upgrades, including a renovation of its dialysis unit, to support safe and effective patient care. In September 2025, the VA awarded funding to five Iowa organizations to help veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. SOURCE: White House