This week, the Department of Agriculture cut more than $1 billion in funds intended to help schools and food banks make purchases from local farmers. The School Nutrition Association, a nonprofit group, also estimates that $660 million in funds through the Local Food for Schools program for 2025 will no longer be available to support child care institutions and school sites themselves.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education confirmed that it had received notice of termination of the second round of Local Food for Schools grant funding, a $12.2 million grant, from the USDA, which claimed “that it has determined that this agreement no longer represents the agency’s priorities and that termination of the award is appropriate.”
Governor Maura Healey believes that Elon Musk’s DOGE, which since Donald Trump’s return to the White House has been trying to cut federal spending in every way, is behind these latest radical cuts.
“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,” she said. “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.”
As Politico reported, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which provides food to food banks and organizations that reach the most decentralized communities, was also included in the federal cuts.
JB Pritzker, governor of Illinois, also spoke on the matter, explaining: “Cutting funds for these programs is a slap in the face to Illinois farmers and the communities they feed. The Trump Administration’s refusal to release grant funds doesn’t just hurt farmers in the program, it devastates our most vulnerable, food-insecure communities relying on meat, fresh produce and other nutritious donations.”
What’s more, according to the School Nutrition Association, the government is poised to end funding for school lunch programs.
“With research showing school meals are the healthiest meals Americans eat, Congress needs to invest in underfunded school meal programs rather than cut services critical to student achievement and health,” the group said.
