1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's cuts to crucial USDA programs providing funding for food banks, schools, and local farms are unacceptable. These programs serve a vital role in addressing food insecurity, which has reached alarming levels across the nation, especially in rural communities. The recent reduction in food shipments from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to food banks and kitchens, without warning or explanation, is particularly egregious. These funding cuts not only undermine efforts to combat hunger but also deal a blow to local food producers and economies. With food insecurity rates at their highest point in nearly a decade, now is not the time to dismantle programs aimed at ensuring access to nutritious food for all Americans. Congress authorized funding for these initiatives under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act. As such, the administration lacks the legal authority to redirect or remove this funding unilaterally. I urge you to exercise your constitutional "power of the purse" and demand the immediate restoration of USDA funding for food banks, schools, and farmers. These programs provide essential support to vulnerable communities and local economies, and their continuation is a matter of moral and economic imperative.