Baldwin Presses USDA to Reverse $1 Billion in Canceled Local Food Purchases for Farmers, Schools & Food Banks

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a group of her colleagues are demanding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) immediately reverse the cancellation of local food purchase programs that allow states, territories, and Tribes, including Wisconsin, to purchase food from Wisconsin farmers to be used by local emergency food providers, schools, and childcare centers. Specifically, Baldwin is calling on the administration to reverse course on the cancellation of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS). Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced earlier this month that the Trump Administration had reneged on contracts with the state that support Wisconsin farmers and food banks through the LFPA program.

“We ask that you reverse the cancellation,” wrote Baldwin and the lawmakers in a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. “We have grave concerns that the cancellation…poses extreme harm to producers and communities in every state across the country. At a time of uncertainty in farm country, farmers need every opportunity to be able to expand market access for their products.”

In their letter, the lawmakers warned of the harmful impacts this move by the Trump Administration will have on American farmers and families. According to Governor Evers’ Office, as of the end of 2024, nearly 300 Wisconsin farmers had participated in the Wisconsin LFPA Program, which distributed more than $4 million in food and served all 72 of Wisconsin’s counties. More than half of the participating farmers—55 percent—were new or beginning farmers. The program was set to enter its third year in just a few weeks based on Wisconsin’s contractual agreement with the federal government. USDA also told school nutritionists that it would end a companion program that connects farmers with local schools. The loss of the two programs is estimated to cut off farmers nationwide from more than $1 billion in support and would cut Wisconsin’s promised funding by nearly $6 million.

The letter was led by Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and co-signed by 29 other Senate colleagues.

A full version of this letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Rollins:

We write to express serious concerns regarding the cancellation of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs supporting local and regional food purchases providing assistance to those in need. These successful programs, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), allow states, territories, and Tribes to purchase local foods from nearby farmers and ranchers to be used for emergency food providers, schools, and childcare centers.

At a time when food insecurity remains high, providing affordable, fresh food to food banks and families while supporting American farmers is critical. Notably, LFPA and LFS have benefitted producers and consumers by providing funding for purchases through all 50 states, four territories, and 84 tribal governments. Through LFPA and LFS, USDA has prioritized the procurement and distribution of healthy, nutritious, domestic food. It has also taken an important step towards igniting rural prosperity by expanding and strengthening markets among farmers and rural economies. As of December 2024, the programs had supported over 8,000 producers, providing increased marketing opportunities.

Most importantly, we ask that you reverse the cancellation of LFPA and LFS. We also ask that you provide a thorough and complete update on USDA’s implementation of LFPA and LFS, including answers to the following questions:

• What is the status of reimbursements for entities that have agreements with USDA through LFPA and LFS? What is the last date for which states, territories, and Tribes received reimbursements for food purchases under LFPA and LFS?
• Has the Administration conducted any assessments of how these program cancellations will impact producers and recipient organizations (e.g., food banks, schools, child care centers)? If so, please provide a copy of any such assessments.

We have grave concerns that the cancellation of LFPA and LFS poses extreme harm to producers and communities in every state across the country. At a time of uncertainty in farm country, farmers need every opportunity to be able to expand market access for their products.

Please provide responses to the information requested in our questions no later than Friday, April 4. Thank you for your attention to this urgent and important matter.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.