1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

Significant cuts to crucial federal nutrition programs like The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program are leaving food banks and pantries across the nation with dwindling supplies. This is exacerbating hunger levels that had already reached alarming heights, with 13.5% of Americans struggling to secure enough food in 2023 according to USDA data - the highest rate in nearly a decade. These funding cuts will drastically reduce the amount of staples like produce, meat, dairy, and grains that food banks can distribute to the millions of low-income Americans who rely on their services. Organizations in states like West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, California and Nebraska have collectively lost millions in federal aid. Local farmers who supplied food through these programs are also losing vital sales channels. Oligarchs and billionaires should not be destroying our nation's social safety net. Hunger should not be a pervasive issue in one of the wealthiest nations on Earth. Reinstating full funding for TEFAP, LFPA and other nutrition programs is imperative to combat rising food insecurity and ensure no American goes hungry. These programs provide a vital lifeline and their curtailment will have devastating impacts on vulnerable communities. Decisive action is needed to prevent this completely unacceptable situation from worsening further.