Newsom Pushes Back as USDA Slashes $47M in Food Bank Funds
- by Kylie Dow
- Apr 7
- 2 min read
Federal Funds Yanked Without Warning
Governor Gavin Newsom is calling out the U.S. Department of Agriculture after it abruptly terminated $47 million in federal funding earmarked for California’s Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools programs. These funds have been vital in connecting small and mid-sized California farmers to food banks, schools, and community organizations since 2022. In a letter sent to the USDA this week, Newsom urged the department to reverse the decision, calling the cuts “irrational and malicious.”
A Program That Worked—Now Gone
Since its inception, California’s LFPA Program has distributed over $88.5 million to local growers, providing healthy produce to food-insecure families while sustaining regional food systems. In 2024 alone, the program supplied the California Association of Food Banks with over $22.3 million, resulting in more than 18.6 million meals served to those in need. Now, with next year’s funding scrapped, the infrastructure built around the LFPA will unravel, leaving farmers and food banks scrambling.
A Disruption to California’s Local Food Chain
The sudden halt in funding isn’t just a line item cut—it’s a disruption to an entire supply chain. California’s local food networks have relied on LFPA dollars to bridge the gap between small farms and high-need communities, creating a stable, win-win system that supports both local economies and vulnerable families. With those funds gone, growers are now faced with oversupply, staffing challenges, and operational uncertainty. Food banks, schools, and community centers that once had reliable access to fresh, local produce will now be forced to seek alternative suppliers—often at higher costs and from outside the state. This decision sends shockwaves through every layer of California’s ag economy, especially at a time when local food access is more critical than ever.
Political Fallout from Sacramento
Governor Newsom didn’t hold back in his letter: “This funding cut will not only hurt our farmers, but also the families who rely on food banks and school meals to stay healthy and thrive.” First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom added, “Farmers, families, and schoolchildren rely on these programs to nourish our communities and strengthen local food systems… Without this funding, we risk devastating losses across the board.”
California Agriculture: On the Front Lines Again
California produces nearly half of the country’s fruits and vegetables. It’s an industry constantly navigating climate change, labor shortages, and shifting market conditions. Now, another challenge has been added: disappearing federal support with little explanation and no contingency plan. This is more than just a policy dispute—it’s a wake-up call to every grower participating in public food programs.
What Comes Next?
The Governor’s appeal is now in the hands of the USDA. As farmers weigh their next steps and local food banks brace for shortages, the long-term consequences of this decision remain uncertain. For many, it raises a bigger question: When politics shift, who protects the people feeding America?
