Congresswoman Brown Blasts Trump USDA for Massive Funding Cuts to Food Banks and Schools

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11), Vice Ranking Member on the House Committee on Agriculture sharply criticized the Trump Administration for ending two USDA programs that provide funding for food banks and schools to buy local food. 

“The Trump Administration is proving to be bad for farmers, bad for children, and bad for people in need. Instead of strengthening our food supply chain and supporting students and food banks, the Trump White House wants cuts, chaos, and cruelty. These two programs were a win-win for farmers and communities and it is incredibly short-sighted to abruptly end them. As Vice Ranking Member on the Agriculture Committee, I will continue to speak up for students, people in need, and small farmers – because clearly they are not being heard by President Trump,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. 

Last week, the USDA announced that it was ending the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, which awards funds to states for food assistance purchases of domestic local foods for distribution to schools and child care institutions,  and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which allows the states, tribes and territories to procure and distribute local and regional foods, including to food banks and organizations that reach underserved communities. 

Congresswoman Brown’s guest for Trump’s Joint Address to Congress last week was Kristin Warzocha, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Brown invited Warzocha to highlight the importance of fighting hunger and the devastating impact of cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the House Republican Budget. In Brown’s district, 21% of households rely on SNAP benefits. 

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