Pennsylvania Suing USDA Over Food Aid Funding Cut

June 5, 2025 4:50 am

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, saying the agency, under President Donald Trump, illegally cut off funding through a program designed to distribute more than $1 billion to states. The money was to buy food from farms for schools, child care centers and food banks. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in federal court. It comes three months after the USDA advised states it was ending the pandemic-era assistance program. The loss to Pennsylvania is $13 million under a three-year contract. Purchases include commodities such as cheese, eggs, meat, fruits and vegetables. The department, under then-President Joe Biden, announced a second round of funding through the program last year.