Democratic senators demand answers from USDA after major cuts to food assistance programs

Robert Rodriguez, The Sacramento Bee on Mar 14, 2025

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A group of Senate Democrats are demanding answers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture after it gutted two programs aimed at providing produce to food banks and schools.

The USDA slashed $2 billion from the budgets of the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program.

In a response Thursday, senators urged the USDA to reverse the cancellation of the programs and explain how the shutdown will “impact producers and recipient organizations (eg., food banks, schools, child care centers.)”

Among the Democrats signing the letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins were Adam Schiff of California, Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.

“At a time when food insecurity remains high, providing affordable, fresh food to food banks and families while supporting American farmers is critical,” said the letter. “Notably, LFPA and LFS have benefited producers and consumers by providing funding for purchases through all 50 states, four territories, and 84 tribal governments.”

In California, the federal funding supported 533 small farmers who in turn produced food for 55 food banks and other community food partners. Of the more than 500 small farmers, about 100 were from the San Joaquin Valley.

Nationwide, the programs supported more than 8,000 producers as of December.

“We have grave concerns that the cancellation of LFPA and LFS poses extreme harm to producers and communities in every state across the country,” according to the letter. “At a time of uncertainty in farm country, farmers need every opportunity to be able to expand market access for their products.”

USDA officials could not be reached Thursday.

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