Food banks across the U.S. are stating that they will have less food to distribute due to at least $1 billion in federal funding cuts. According to Reuters, organizations in seven states have already reported food shortages following these cuts. The reductions include pausing the USDA¡¯s The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and canceling the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program, which supported schools and food banks by purchasing from local farmers.
Vince Hall of Feeding America, the country¡¯s largest food bank network, said that TEFAP funding has been halved, leaving many food banks with fewer deliveries. The USDA has confirmed it is still making purchases but has not explained the reduced shipments.
With inflation rising and pandemic-era food aid programs ending, hunger in the U.S. has increased. In 2023, 13.5% of Americans faced food insecurity, the highest rate in nearly a decade, according to USDA data. In rural areas, the numbers are even worse, with 15.4% struggling to get enough food.
Organizations like the Northern Illinois Food Bank and Mountaineer Food Bank in West Virginia are among those reporting a sharp drop in expected food deliveries. Chad Morrison of Mountaineer Food Bank said that 40% of their expected April deliveries of cheese, eggs, and milk have been canceled. In Illinois, food bank leaders say they have lost millions of dollars in federal funding, leading to fewer food options for those in need.
Farmers are also feeling the impact. Anna Pesek from Iowa, who previously sold turkey and pork to food banks through the LFPA, said the funding cuts mean her products will no longer reach those in need. ¡°It feels really devastating,¡± she said.
The cuts to food assistance have sparked strong reactions on social media. Many users criticized the decision, with one saying, "Why must we balance our budget on the backs of the poor?" Another wrote, "Trump spending cuts hit struggling food banks, putting low-income Americans at risk of hunger." A third user expressed anger, calling Trump and his allies "the lowest scum of the earth along with all of your billionaire buddies."
As food banks struggle to meet growing demand, concerns over food insecurity continue to rise. Advocates are urging the government to reconsider the cuts before the situation worsens.