USDA School Lunch Program Cuts in NC: Facts & Impact

North Carolina -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the discontinuation of two key programs: the Local Food for

Schools (LFS) Cooperative Agreement Program

and the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreement Program. These programs previously provided funding to schools and food banks to purchase fresh, locally sourced food. The decision is part of broader federal budget reductions under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a government initiative tasked with evaluating and cutting expenditures across multiple agencies.

DOGE's Role in the Decision

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is the entity responsible for making this decision. As part of its mandate under the Trump administration, DOGE was tasked with reviewing and eliminating government programs deemed non-essential. The USDA meal program cuts were a direct result of this initiative. While DOGE claims that these cuts are intended to streamline spending, there is no clear evidence that the move will result in actual cost savings. In some cases, previous budget cuts overseen by DOGE have led to increased costs due to the rehiring of essential personnel. The decision to end these USDA programs was made despite ongoing reliance on them by schools and food banks, highlighting concerns about the long-term consequences of the cuts.

Overview of the Cuts

North Carolina was set to receive nearly $19 million in funding for the 2025-2026 fiscal year through the LFS program to support school meal programs. Additionally, $11.4 million was allocated under the LFPA program to assist food banks in acquiring food from local farmers. The cancellation of these programs means that funding will no longer be available to assist in these efforts.

Potential Impact on North Carolina Schools

The primary concern following these budget cuts is how they will affect students who depend on school-provided meals. Many schools, particularly in rural areas of Western North Carolina, rely on federal assistance to maintain their meal programs. The impacts may include:

Reduction in fresh food availability – Schools that previously sourced food from local farms may need to seek lower-cost alternatives, potentially leading to a decrease in the quality and nutritional value of meals.

Increased food costs for schools – Without federal funding, schools will need to allocate funds from other parts of their budgets to sustain meal programs, which could impact other school services.

Potential meal service reductions – Some schools may have to scale back meal offerings, affecting students who rely on school-provided breakfast and lunch as a primary source of nutrition.

Impact on local food suppliers – Farmers and vendors that supplied schools may experience financial losses due to the decreased demand for their products.

What Comes Next?

School districts and food assistance organizations are exploring alternative funding sources to mitigate the impact of these cuts. Possible solutions include:

State-level funding options – Schools may seek assistance from state budgets to offset the loss of federal support.

Public-private partnerships – Some districts are looking into partnerships with local businesses or nonprofit organizations to help sustain meal programs.

Community support initiatives – Local organizations may step in to provide additional food assistance where needed.

The full effects of the USDA budget cuts will become clearer as school districts adjust to the funding changes and implement new strategies to continue supporting student nutrition programs. State and local agencies are expected to monitor the situation and provide additional guidance as needed.

Source: 

USDA Cuts More Than $1 Billion in Local Food Purchases for Schools, Food BanksThe Guardian (March 11, 2025)
USDA Cancels $1B in Local Food Purchasing for Schools, Food Banks

Politico (March 10, 2025)
USDA Cuts Over $1 Billion in Funding for Schools, Local Food Purchases

Reuters (March 11, 2025)
North Carolina Schools and Food Banks Affected by USDA Cuts

ABC11 News (March 2025)
Federal Spending Report Shows 7% Increase Despite Budget Cuts

Financial Times (March 2025)
USDA Press Release on Budget Reallocation and Efficiency Measures

USDA Official Website (February 14, 2025)
Trump Administration’s DOGE Initiative and Federal Budget Reductions

AP News (March 2025)
Concerns Over DOGE and Government Cost-Saving Strategies

The Times (March 2025)

WNCTimes

Image: WNCTimes