Illinois has ended two food programs after President Donald Trump’s administration has cut funding, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced on Tuesday.
Newsweek has reached out to the IDOA and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The Trump administration, under Elon Musk‘s cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aims to reduce government costs and the federal workforce. In its first month of operation, it has restructured multiple federal agencies and recommended mass layoffs, sparking backlash and concern from Trump critics, as well as from some Republicans.
Musk has called for sweeping cuts to federal government spending, claiming it should be reduced by up to $2 trillion annually. Supporters say this will boost efficiency and help tackle the national debt, while critics argue it will reduce access to government services.
What To Know
The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced Tuesday that cuts to federal funding has abruptly halted reimbursements for two food programs aimed at supporting local farmers and delivering fresh food to food banks.
The funding freeze affects the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) established by the USDA and the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI).
The LFPA, which supports the Illinois-EATS initiative, uses federal dollars to buy fresh produce from farmers at fair market value. The food is then distributed to communities through food pantries and similar programs at no additional cost. The program prioritizes socially disadvantaged farmers, including those considered “new farmers” by federal standards.
Since its inception, the Illinois-EATS program has partnered with more than 170 farmers, delivering fresh produce to 883 locations statewide.
The USDA initially committed $43 million to Illinois for the program, but the state reports a shortfall of $17.8 million in expected reimbursements. The partnership between Illinois and the USDA was formalized in 2022, but the state now finds itself unable to continue the initiative without federal support.
J. David Ake/Getty Images
Meanwhile, the RFSI grant program aims to bolster food processing and…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Newsweek…