Source:  POLITICO' S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 2/26/19

Trump's fiscal 2020 budget request will propose slashing non-defense programs by 5 percent, acting OMB Director Russell Vought wrote in an op-ed for RealClearPolitics. But the Agriculture Department could be looking at an even steeper proposed cut, Perdue said Monday.

"I wish they would give us a 5 percent cut," he said, facetiously.

Congress vs. White House: Perdue noted that Congress usually disregards the president's budget request, which in recent years has unsuccessfully called for cuts to USDA.

The secretary told reporters he'd like to see the process go back to being more of a negotiation between the president and Congress: "It's like buying and selling a piece of land. You've got to get within the realm of negotiation there for people to take you seriously in that regard."