USDA Cuts $1 Billion in Food Assistance Programs for Schools and Food Banks
The Trump administration ends funding for initiatives supporting local food purchases, impacting schools, food banks, farmers, and families nationwide.
- The USDA has eliminated the $660 million Local Food for Schools Program and the $420 million Local Food Purchase Assistance Program for 2025.
- These cuts will affect over 40 states, limiting schools' and food banks' ability to purchase fresh, locally sourced food for students and underserved communities.
- Food banks in Long Island, New York, estimate a 10% reduction in food purchases, potentially worsening food insecurity for over 221,000 residents.
- School meal programs nationwide may rely more on processed foods due to reduced budgets, impacting students' access to nutritious meals.
- Advocates warn the cuts will harm local farmers, increase food insecurity, and strain school districts already grappling with rising food and labor costs.