The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has eliminated over $1 billion in funding that help bring local food to schools and food banks.
The move, part of broader federal spending reductions, could impact millions of students and families nationwide.
Why It Matters
The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) program, which allocates approximately $660 million for schools and childcare centers to purchase food from local farms, has been cut for 2025. Additionally, the USDA has discontinued the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which provided $500 million to food banks, per The Guardian.
What To Know
The USDA announced funding for the affected programs last year. States were informed last week that their agreements would be terminated following a 60-day notification period.
Nonprofit School Nutrition Association said the change would pull free meals away from 12 million U.S. students.
Which States Will Be Impacted?
The impact of these cuts will vary by state, depending on their reliance on the LFS program. States that had integrated these funds into their operational plans for school meal programs and food banks will face significant challenges.
According to USDA, the following states have signed with USDA on the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey in a press release criticized the elimination of funding, highlighting its negative impact on local families and farmers.
“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,” said Healey. “There is nothing ‘appropriate’ about it. Trump and Musk are continuing to withhold essential funding in violation of court orders, and our children, farmers and small businesses are bearing the brunt of it.”
Why Are Federal Programs Being Cut?
The USDA’s decision is under President Donald Trump’s broader effort to reduce federal spending and downsize government programs, under Elon Musk‘s cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The administration has also imposed new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, which have affected U.S. markets.
How Will Schools and Food Banks Be Impacted?
The decision could cause disruptions across the school meal system and local food banks. Some school nutrition teams may struggle to maintain current meal programs without LFS funding, and food banks that relied on USDA-backed local purchasing agreements may be forced to reduce operations or cut food assistance programs.
The SNA has launched a nationwide advocacy campaign against the cuts, urging Congress to restore funding. According to a press release, school meal programs are already operating on tight budgets and will struggle to meet federal nutrition standards without additional support.
“These proposals would cause millions of children to lose access to free school meals at a time when working families are struggling with rising food costs,” SNA president Shannon Gleave said.
The USDA maintains that other existing agreements will remain active for the duration of their performance periods, but advocates argue that the loss of these programs will have lasting consequences for food security in schools and communities.
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