(3 Jul 2019) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus119788
When President Donald Trump's administration announced a $12 billion aid package for farmers struggling under the financial strain of his trade dispute with China, the payments were capped.
But records obtained by The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act show that many large farming operations easily found legal ways around the limits to collect big checks.
For example, the government paid nearly $2.8 million to a Missouri operation registered as three entities at the same address.
Recipients who spoke to AP defended the payouts, saying they didn't even cover their losses under Trump's trade war and that they were legally entitled to them.
But critics, including U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, say it's the latest example of loopholes in federal farm subsidy programs.
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