The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has canceled two significant programs aimed at helping schools and food banks purchase food from local farms, cutting more than $1 billion in federal funding.
The cancellation includes approximately $660 million allocated for the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program for 2025. This program was designed to support schools and childcare facilities in buying locally sourced food. According to the School Nutrition Association (SNA), the USDA notified state officials on Friday that the program would be halted for the upcoming year. Over 40 states had participated in the program in previous years, with many relying on the funds to support local farming economies.
In addition to the school funding program, the USDA also discontinued the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which provided funding to food banks and other hunger relief organizations. While the USDA is honoring existing agreements and unfreezing funds for current LFPA contracts, the second round of funding for fiscal year 2025 has been canceled.
A USDA spokesperson confirmed the termination of the programs, which were initially announced last October, and explained that these initiatives, created under the previous administration, no longer align with the agency’s current goals. The spokesperson further clarified that agreements made before fiscal year 2025, with substantial remaining funds, would continue through the end of their performance periods.
These programs were part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to strengthen the U.S. food supply chain by reducing reliance on major corporations and supporting local farms. Last year, the USDA announced more than $1 billion in additional funding through the Commodity Credit Corporation, a fund established during the New Deal to purchase agricultural commodities.
The cuts come at a time when school nutrition officials are facing growing concerns over the affordability of healthy food, with food prices continuing to rise. As many families struggle with higher grocery bills, food banks and feeding organizations are seeing increased demand for assistance.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, a Democrat, criticized the decision, emphasizing that her state would lose $12 million earmarked for local school districts. In a statement, Healey expressed frustration, stating, “Donald Trump and Elon Musk have declared that feeding children and supporting local farmers are no longer ‘priorities,’ and it’s just the latest terrible cut with real impact on families across Massachusetts.”
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