The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently made cuts to funding that help bring local food to schools and food banks, totaling over $1 billion. This decision, part of broader federal spending reductions, could impact millions of students and families nationwide. The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) program, which provides funds for schools and childcare centers to purchase food from local farms, has been eliminated for 2025. Additionally, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which supported food banks with $500 million, has also been discontinued. States were informed last week that their agreements would be terminated following a 60-day notification period.
The cuts will affect states differently, depending on their reliance on the LFS program. States that have integrated these funds into their operational plans for school meal programs and food banks will face significant challenges. A total of 42 states had signed agreements with the USDA on the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, indicating that the impact of these cuts will be widespread. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey criticized the elimination of funding, noting its negative impact on local families and farmers. The USDA’s decision is part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to reduce federal spending and downsize government programs, under the direction of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The decision to cut funding for these programs could lead to disruptions in the school meal system and local food banks. Some school nutrition programs may struggle to maintain current meal offerings without the support of the LFS program, and food banks that relied on USDA-backed local purchasing agreements may be forced to reduce operations or cut food assistance programs. The School Nutrition Association (SNA) has launched an advocacy campaign against the cuts, urging Congress to restore funding. According to the SNA president Shannon Gleave, these proposals could cause millions of children to lose access to free school meals at a time when many families are already struggling with rising food costs.
The USDA has stated that 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. The impact of these cuts will be felt at both the local and national levels, with school meal programs and food banks facing challenges in providing nutritious food to students and families. With the loss of funding from the USDA, many organizations will need to find alternative sources of support to continue their vital work in ensuring access to healthy food for all.
