Pa. sues USDA over canceled $13M food aid funding

Governor Josh Shapiro announced Wednesday that Pennsylvania has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture for what the state calls the unlawful termination of a contract supporting its Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program.

The suit follows USDA’s decision earlier this year to cut off funding through a $1 billion food aid initiative designed to help states purchase locally grown food for distribution to schools, child care centers, and food banks.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg, seeks to reverse USDA’s move to end Pennsylvania’s $13 million agreement under the program, which has supported 189 farms and 14 food banks across the Commonwealth.

“Pennsylvania farmers do the noble work of putting food on our tables — and for the last three years, they’ve been paid to provide fresh, local food to food banks across our Commonwealth as part of a successful federal initiative,” said Shapiro at a press conference held at the Share Food Program warehouse in Philadelphia. “When the USDA abruptly terminated our agreement without cause, they ripped away a reliable source of income for 189 Pennsylvania farms — and cut off funding that would have helped provide over 4.4 million meals to families across the Commonwealth. That’s not just bad policy — it’s a broken promise. A deal is a deal, and I’ve taken legal action today to ensure the federal government honors its commitment to Pennsylvania.”

Shapiro criticized the agency’s rationale, saying the USDA failed to adequately explain why the program no longer aligned with its priorities. “I don’t get what the hell their priorities are if not feeding people and taking care of our farmers,” he said.

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, farmers including Brian Campbell of Brian Campbell Farms, and other local leaders joined Shapiro at the Share Food Program in Philadelphia to show support for the lawsuit and to reinforce the importance of the program to Pennsylvania’s food systems.

The LFPA initiative was originally launched during the Biden administration as part of pandemic-era support for local food systems. According to the state, purchases under the agreement have included cheese, meat, eggs, fruits, and vegetables, all sourced from within Pennsylvania.