California faces a food security crisis as $47 million in federal funding for local food assistance programs vanishes and state budget cuts slash CalFood support by nearly 87 percent.
At a Glance
- Governor Gavin Newsom has asked the USDA to reverse the termination of $47 million in funding for local food aid programs
- The funding cut affects food banks and programs supplying fresh produce to California families
- California’s CalFood program faces severe budget reduction from $60 million to just $8 million
- The federal funding termination came as the Biden administration declared the “COVID era is over”
- California has previously used over $88.5 million in LFPA funding since 2022 to support local farmers and food distribution
Federal Funding Cuts Leave California Food Programs in Jeopardy
Governor Gavin Newsom has launched an appeal to the USDA following the agency’s termination of $47 million in funding that supported critical local food assistance programs throughout California. The funding cuts directly impact food banks and initiatives that distribute fresh, healthy foods to families across the state. These programs, which have been operational since 2022, were specifically designed to support local, regional, and historically underserved agricultural producers while simultaneously addressing food insecurity through established distribution networks.
The Biden administration had previously committed $1.13 billion for local food programs nationwide, including $472 million earmarked for schools and $660 million for the Local Food Purchase Assistance program (LFPA). However, in March, the USDA abruptly terminated these programs, citing a shift in priorities. California, which produces nearly half of the nation’s fruits and vegetables, has utilized more than $88.5 million in LFPA funding since the program’s inception to bolster local farmers and food assistance programs, making the funding cut particularly impactful to the state’s agricultural and food aid sectors.
Impact on California’s Food Banks and School Meals
The California Association of Food Banks, a major recipient of federal funding, received over $22.3 million in 2024 alone to provide locally sourced food and nearly 19 million meals to residents in need. Additionally, the California Department of Education has benefited from more than $23 million from the USDA’s Local Food for Schools program in recent years, supporting nutritious meal offerings in schools statewide. The termination of these funds creates immediate challenges for organizations that have come to rely on this support to fulfill their missions of combating hunger.
The sudden funding termination has deeply affected local food assistance operations across the state, disrupting established supply chains between local farmers and distribution centers. Food banks, which serve as critical lifelines for millions of Californians facing food insecurity, are now scrambling to find alternative funding sources or face the possibility of reduced services. School meal programs that emphasized locally sourced, nutritious foods must now reconsider their procurement strategies with significantly reduced budgets.
State Budget Cuts Compound Federal Funding Loss
While California grapples with the loss of federal funding, the state’s own budget constraints are creating a parallel crisis for food assistance programs. Amid a $2 billion budget deficit, the state’s CalFood program is set to see its funding plummet from $60 million to just $8 million for the 2025-2026 budget cycle. This represents a nearly 87 percent reduction in state support for a program that provides California-grown agricultural products to low-income individuals through food banks and similar organizations.
“USDA is prioritizing stable, proven solutions that deliver lasting impact,” a USDA spokesperson told The Epoch Times in early March. “The COVID era is over—USDA’s approach to nutrition programs will reflect that reality moving forward.”
The California Association of Food Banks has advocated for maintaining permanent funding of $60 million for the CalFood program, arguing that the need for food assistance remains high despite the official end of the pandemic emergency. Even as these targeted programs face cuts, CalFresh, California’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), continues to receive substantial federal support, with $12 billion allocated for 2023-2024. This program provides an average monthly benefit of $189 to approximately 5.3 million Californians, demonstrating the significant ongoing need for food assistance across the state.
Uncertain Future for California’s Food Security Networks
Governor Newsom has made a direct appeal to the USDA to reconsider its funding decision, emphasizing the critical role these programs play in supporting both California’s agricultural sector and vulnerable populations dependent on food assistance. “I implore the USDA to immediately reverse this decision,” Newsom stated in his appeal to federal authorities. The combined impact of federal funding termination and state budget cuts creates significant uncertainty for organizations committed to addressing food insecurity throughout California.
The situation highlights the challenges faced by state governments when federal funding priorities shift, particularly for programs that have become integrated into local support systems. While California continues to receive substantial federal funding for broad-based nutrition assistance through CalFresh, the more targeted programs aimed at connecting local producers with community needs face an uncertain future without the restoration of federal support or identification of alternative funding sources.
