President Donald Trump’s efforts to curb federal spending have hit the Department of Agriculture, which has cut over $1 billion in funding aimed at helping schools and food banks purchase from local farmers.
States recently learned about the cuts, which will cut funding for the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) in 2025, the organization School Nutrition Association said in a news release.
Florida school partners were slated to receive an estimated $42,583,882 in 2025 from the LFS program. Meanwhile, the state was expecting to receive a combined total of $22,439,038 from the LFPA programs, according to the USDA website.
Here’s what to know about the USDA canceling local food purchasing funding.
USDA cancels an estimated $42 million in local food purchasing in Florida
In 2024, The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services was awarded $11,459,410 to build a program that would partner local farmers with community partners to provide Florida schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the School Breakfast Program (SBP) with locally sourced foods.
The program’s goal was to help increase the resiliency of Florida’s local food supply chains. Students would have had access to eat more local, fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, proteins and other eligible commodities, according to the USDA’s website.
Research shows enhanced academic performance from students who consume nutritionally balanced meals daily. Ultimately this program benefitted students participating in NSLP or SBP, community partners, and Florida producers, targeting small business and socially disadvantaged producers.
In 2025, the USDA estimated that it would provide Florida with more than $42 million in funding for its LFS program before its funding was cut.
What about Florida food banks?
Florida is also participating in the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreement Program and its expansion program, LFPA Plus.
The state received $24,800,000 in LFPA funds and an additional $21,674,292 through the LFPA expansion program. Florida was expected to receive an estimated $22,439,038 in LFPA funds in 2025.
Like its LFS counterpart, the LFPA used non-competitive cooperative agreements to provide funding to help support local, regional and underserved producers.
The program’s goal was to link local and regional food sources that are healthy and nutritious with local partners responsible for feeding programs, including food banks and organizations that reach underserved communities.
It sought not only to increase local food consumption but also to help build and expand economic opportunities for local producers.
Why is USDA cutting school, food bank funds?
The cuts are the latest in a long list of spending programs and jobs to be cut from the federal government, cuts touted by President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency (spearheaded by Elon Musk).
According to the Massachusetts agriculture department, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service determined the funding “no longer effectuates federal agency priorities, and that termination of the funds is appropriate.”
How much money does USDA spend on school, food bank programs?
The funding cuts to the local school and food bank programs amount to over $1 billion, according to Politico. The School Nutrition Association said $660 million of that money was for schools to make the local food purchases.
In December 2024, the USDA announced a $1.13 billion investment for the programs. Of that funding, $471.5 million was slotted for states and territories to “purchase local, unprocessed, or minimally processed domestic foods” to serve in schools participating free or reduced-cost meal programs, and $188.6 million for child care centers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci – USA TODAY
