The Trump Administration has stepped in to defend a 175-year-old family farm in New Jersey from being seized by local officials seeking to replace fertile agricultural land with government-mandated affordable housing units.
Key Takeaways
- The Henry family farm in Cranbury, NJ, established in 1850, faces seizure through eminent domain for a 130-unit affordable housing development.
- Despite rejecting offers up to $30 million and investing $200,000 in their farm, the Henry brothers are being forced out by local government.
- USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the Trump Administration is “exploring every legal option” to protect the farm from government takeover.
- Cranbury Township officials claim the seizure is necessary to meet state-mandated affordable housing quotas, despite the farm being located in a warehouse district.
- The case highlights growing tensions between government housing mandates and the preservation of America’s agricultural heritage and private property rights.
Family Farm Faces Government Seizure
In a troubling example of government overreach, Cranbury Township in New Jersey is attempting to seize a historic family farm through eminent domain to build affordable housing. The 175-year-old Henry family farm, owned by brothers Christopher and Andy Henry, has been in their family since 1850 when their great-grandfather purchased the property. Despite the brothers’ clear desire to continue their family’s agricultural legacy and rejection of substantial purchase offers, local officials are moving forward with plans to forcibly take their land.
The Henry brothers have invested $200,000 in their farm and have turned down offers from developers reaching as high as $30 million. Their determination to preserve their agricultural heritage speaks volumes about their commitment to farming rather than profit. Andy Henry expressed their shock at the township’s actions, stating the eminent domain threat “totally shocked us,” according to Fox Business. The property is not merely land to the Henrys but represents five generations of family history and agricultural tradition.
Trump administration pushes back on New Jersey town moving to seize 175-year-old family #farm via eminent domain —USDA's Rollins said she had been 'on the phone' with one of the farm's owners.https://t.co/9QFPFOaCMC
— FarmPolicy (@FarmPolicy) June 25, 2025
Trump Administration Defends American Farmers
President Trump’s administration has quickly responded to the threat against the Henry farm. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced the USDA is investigating the situation and exploring all legal avenues to protect the family’s property rights. This intervention represents a significant shift from previous administrations’ approaches to eminent domain and property rights issues, with the Trump team explicitly standing with American farmers against government overreach.
“While this particular case is a city eminent domain issue, we at USDA are exploring every legal option to help,” said Brooke Rollins, U.S. Agriculture Secretary.
Secretary Rollins made the administration’s position crystal clear when she declared, “We must protect family farms at all costs. Whether the Maudes, the Henrys or others whom we will soon announce, the Biden-style government takeover of our family farms is over,” according to Fox Business. This statement signals a broader policy approach focused on defending agricultural heritage and private property rights from government intrusion.
Questionable Housing Priorities
Cranbury Township is justifying the land seizure as necessary to meet a state mandate requiring towns to add or rehabilitate affordable housing units. However, critics point out the absurdity of the plan, given the farm’s location. The property is surrounded by warehouses and industrial facilities, raising serious questions about the suitability of the location for residential development and the welfare of potential residents who would be placed there.
“This affordable housing’s going to be by itself, surrounded by warehouses. How is that a good decision and how is that fair to the low-income people who are going to live there?” questioned Timothy Dugan, a local attorney.
The township plans to partner with Walters Group to develop a 130-unit affordable apartment complex on the seized farmland. Mayor Lisa Knierim has defended the decision while acknowledging its unpopularity, stating, “No one is in favor of eminent domain. No one wants to see a farm disappear,” accoeding to NJ.com. Despite this admission, the township is proceeding with the controversial plan, claiming it will protect them from legal challenges by developers under New Jersey’s affordable housing laws.
Community Rallies to Defend American Values
Local residents have mobilized to support the Henry family in their fight against government overreach. Fundraising efforts have begun to help with legal expenses as the brothers prepare to defend their property rights in court. The case has garnered national attention as it exemplifies the conflict between government mandates and the fundamental American principles of private property rights and agricultural preservation. The outcome will likely have significant implications for family farms facing similar threats across the nation.
The situation in Cranbury Township represents a troubling trend of government entities prioritizing development and regulatory compliance over America’s agricultural heritage and individual rights. As President Trump’s administration works to defend the Henry family farm, the case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threats to traditional American values and the importance of having leadership willing to stand against government overreach. The upcoming township committee meetings will be crucial in determining whether this 175-year-old piece of American history will continue as productive farmland or fall victim to bureaucratic mandates.
