Key Takeaways

• The USDA is terminating two Biden-era programs aimed at providing local food to schools and child care facilities.
• The Local Food for Schools and Local Food Purchase Assistance agreements will end after a 60-day notification period.
• Critics, including Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, express concerns over the loss of funding that benefits local farmers and child nutrition.

USDA Terminates Local Food Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has decided to terminate two key initiatives from the Biden administration that facilitated the supply of locally and regionally produced foods to schools, child care facilities, and food banks. These programs—the Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement (LFSCC) and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA)—were implemented through executive authority rather than being authorized by the farm bill.

According to a statement from the USDA to Agri-Pulse, the agency will no longer process claims for payments under these initiatives for work completed before January 20, 2017, when President Donald Trump took office. Although existing agreements will remain effective, the USDA confirmed that the FY 2025 funding for the pandemic-era programs is no longer available, with the agreements set to terminate following a 60-day notice period. The USDA indicated that these programs “no longer effectuate the goals of the agency.”

Former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a significant investment of $1.7 billion in these initiatives last October, utilizing funds from the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation. At that time, the USDA highlighted how the programs would assist American producers by ensuring access to local markets and providing financial benefits from direct sales to institutions.

Comments from stakeholders highlight the impact of these initiatives. An official from the School Nutrition Association stated that the $660 million allocated to the LFSCC was instrumental in establishing local distribution hubs for food. Iowa farmer Ryan Marquardt, who raises chicken, turkey, eggs, and beef, noted that participation in the LFPA program significantly enhanced his business efficiency. The program allowed for improved marketing throughout the year, enabling him to sell products that were more challenging to move otherwise. Although Marquardt has only made nearly $4,000 in sales through the program, he emphasized the operational advantages it provided.

Local government officials have voiced strong criticism regarding the USDA’s decision to end these funding initiatives. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, for instance, condemned the move as detrimental to the state, particularly affecting schools and child care centers that were set to benefit from a $12 million award. In her remarks, she expressed frustration that priorities like feeding children and supporting local farmers have seemingly shifted under the current administration.

The USDA’s termination of the LFSCC and LFPA programs has sparked concerns that these cuts will significantly impact families and local agriculture, underscoring the ongoing tension regarding food policy and support for local food systems in the U.S. The decision reflects a broader shift in federal priorities under the Trump administration, with numerous stakeholders calling for renewed attention to the needs of food security and local farming communities.

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