Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture over its decision to cut a COVID-19 pandemic-era assistance program.
The Trump administration ended the $13 million Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program agreement, supporting 189 Pennsylvania farms and 14 food banks, citing shifting priorities. To no avail, Shapiro appealed the decision in March, resulting in the current lawsuit.
“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,” he said in a statement.
“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 added.
The governor announced the lawsuit at a Philadelphia press conference inside a food bank warehouse, alongside Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, Share Food Program executive director George Matysik, farmer Brian Campbell, and Pennypack Farm & Education Center Executive Director Julie McCabe.
“Here in Pennsylvania, we give a damn about our farmers,” he said in a post on X. “We tried to appeal and we even met directly with the USDA – but they refused to reconsider. So we’re left with no other choice but to sue. A deal is a deal – and the federal government should live up to their commitment to our farmers.”
At the press conference, Shapiro bashed the priorities of the Trump administration and accused it of “illegally” breaking a deal it made with farmers.
“I don’t get what the hell their priorities are if not feeding people and taking care of our farmers,” he said.
McCabe thanked Shapiro for the support and outlined the program’s effect on her organization.
“Thanks to LFPA, we’ve grown our giving program from 8,000 pounds in 2017 to over 26,000 pounds in 2024,” she said in a statement. “In some food pantries, we’re the only source of fresh produce. These programs don’t just feed people — they connect people. Governor Shapiro’s support means everything.”
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The program saw the federal government spend over $1 billion under three-year contracts, $13 million of which went to Pennsylvania. States used the funds to buy food from farms for food banks, school nutrition programs, and child care centers.
The most recent Pennsylvania contract was signed in December 2024 and ended in March.