Education
USDA Cuts Local Food Funding for Schools and Food Banks
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cut over $1 billion in funding that helped bring local food to schools and food banks, sparking concerns about the impact on millions of students and families nationwide.
What’s Changing?
- The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) ($660M) has been eliminated for 2025.
- The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program ($500M) has also been cut, affecting food banks.
Who’s Affected?
- Students: The School Nutrition Association (SNA) says 12 million children could lose access to free meals.
- Food Banks: Many relied on these funds to provide fresh, local food to struggling families.
- States Impacted: Over 40 states had signed USDA agreements, with California, Texas, New York, and Florida among those hit hardest.
Why Was It Cut?
The decision is part of President Donald Trump’s broader federal spending reductions and Elon Musk’s cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The administration has also introduced new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, which have affected U.S. food markets.
Backlash and Response
- Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey called the cuts “devastating” and blamed Trump and Musk for withholding essential funding.
- The SNA has launched a nationwide advocacy campaign urging Congress to restore funding.
