The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently terminated two significant programs that provided over $1 billion annually to support local food purchases by schools and food banks. The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), which allocated approximately $660 million for 2025 to assist schools and childcare facilities in sourcing food from local farms, has been discontinued. Similarly, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), which supported food banks in procuring local produce, has also been halted. Existing agreements may retain some funding, but no new funds will be distributed.
These cuts have raised concerns among school nutrition officials and state leaders, who fear that the loss of these programs will make it more challenging to provide healthy meals to students, especially amid rising food costs. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey criticized the decision, highlighting its negative impact on local families and farmers.
The USDA’s decision is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce federal spending, which has also led to freezes on agricultural grants and loans. Farmers across the U.S. are facing financial uncertainty as a result, with some having to put investments and plans on hold due to the funding freeze.
In response to these developments, the School Nutrition Association has urged Congress to oppose cuts to school meal programs, emphasizing that such reductions would deprive millions of children of free meals at a time when food costs are rising.