Two program providing schools and food banks with money to buy from local farmers and ranchers were recently ended by the United States Department of Agriculture. States were notified that more than $1 billion in federal spending will come to a halt.
A USDA spokesperson confirmed funding that was allocated in October 2024 under the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program “is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification.” The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which supports food banks and other feeding organizations, has also been cut.
“These programs, created under the former Administration via executive authority, no longer effectuate the goals of the agency,” the spokesperson said. “LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that were in place prior to LFPA 25, which still have substantial financial resources remaining, will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance.”
Existing LFPA agreements with food banks and other food organizations will continue, but will not continue with a second round of funding for fiscal year 2025, the USDA said.
The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program allocated roughly $660 million for schools and child care facilities to purchase food from nearby farms, according to the School Nutrition Association. More than 40 states had existing agreements.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said the state would lose $12 million that she planned to give to school districts to afford health food.
“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,” Healey said.
COMMENTS