Federal Cuts Spark Nationwide Concerns of Rising Hunger

Across the United States, food banks and farmers are reeling from the sudden cancellation of federal funding intended to help them distribute healthy, locally grown food. Organizations already stretched thin are now scrambling to find alternative resources within their communities.

In early March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it was cutting more than $1 billion from two significant programs for 2025: the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement. Both initiatives were designed to support local farmers financially by paying them to supply food directly to schools and food banks, ensuring fresh, nutritious options for communities.

Compounding the situation, food banks also learned that scheduled deliveries through the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program were either being halted or drastically reduced. These cuts are part of broader budget tightening measures undertaken by Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which have been targeting various federal programs and jobs. USDA representatives described the cancellations as a shift toward “long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives.”

Those involved with the eliminated programs foresee serious consequences. Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer at Feeding America, warns that rural communities, which depend heavily on these federally funded food programs, will be particularly affected.

“The food banking system is stressed to the breaking point right now because we’re seeing record high demand and diminished resources,” Hall explained. He noted that many families who started relying on food banks during the pandemic are unable to break away from that support because inflation continues to drive up basic living costs.

State level impacts have been severe. Iowa lost approximately $11.3 million previously earmarked to purchase food for schools and food banks, while Arizona’s programs face around $21 million in cuts. In Delaware, the Food Bank of Delaware is losing deliveries totaling around 900,000 meals due to the cancellation of Emergency Food Assistance Program orders—representing more than a quarter of their anticipated annual supply.

Anne Hayes, executive director of Gather food pantry in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, described the increasing strain, stating: “The stress level is going up. The government is stepping back, clearly, so we need the community to step up.”

Food banks traditionally obtain food through community donations, USDA funded programs, or purchasing items directly with limited funds. With significant federal support now gone, organizations will be forced to rely heavily on local donations, which are often difficult to secure in rural, less densely populated areas.

“There’s going to be a lot of hungry people,” said Matt Habash, CEO of The Mid-Ohio Food Collective. “It’s just going to be less food available for people that need it now.”

To partially offset these drastic reductions, the USDA has expanded its use of Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act to purchase food for food banks, but Hall noted this measure won’t fully replace the over $1 billion in lost supplies. Hall remains cautiously hopeful that Congress will step in and include funding to support food banks in the upcoming Farm Bill.

Farmers who relied on the cancelled programs are also facing serious financial impacts. In Iowa, the Farmers Union described the sudden cut as “immediate and potentially devastating,” noting that producers had already anticipated more than $3 million in food sales through these programs in 2025.

Chris Schwartz, executive director of the Iowa Food System Coalition, warned that these cuts might drive small farmers into bankruptcy. In Arizona, Jessie Gruner, director of community innovations at Pinnacle Prevention, emphasized the broader implications, “They’ve been an incredible resource for farmers to create different retail outlets for the things that they grow. To shut that off abruptly, the ripple effects are quite drastic.”

Kristy Allen, a beekeeper and owner of the Bees Kneez in Wisconsin, previously participated in the Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. Through it, Allen provided around 3,000 pounds of honey to St. Croix Valley Food Bank and was able to employ another beekeeper part-time. Now, with the federal funds eliminated, Allen told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel she may be forced to let that employee go.

The programs also helped schools offer healthier meals, giving children access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Julie Udelhofen, a food service director in north Iowa, emphasized that without the grants, schools will struggle to serve “fresh, nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables that encourage lifelong healthy eating.”

Kelly Saxon, who manages Agritopia Farm in Gilbert, Arizona, highlighted the value of local produce, explaining that locally grown items stay fresher and retain their nutritional value longer than produce shipped from distant locations. “I was really excited when we became part of this program,” Saxon said. “As a taxpayer, I’m OK with my money going to do that.”