PA Governor Sues Trump Administration For Millions In Food Funding

PENNSYLVANIA? Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture alleging that the agency has unlawfully terminated Pennsylvania?s Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program.

The $13 million in funding that was cut supports 189 Pennsylvania farms and supplies 14 food banks with fresh, locally grown food.

Since 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has administered more than $28 million in federal funding for the program. The Shapiro administration contends that money has helped food banks reduce waste, distribute local produce, and strengthen the state?s food system. The most recent three-year contract, signed in December 2024, was canceled in March 2025 without explanation.

?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," Shapiro said in a statement. "That?s not just bad policy ? it?s a broken promise."

Shapiro asserted that in public statements, USDA officials claimed Pennsylvania was ?sitting on tens of millions? in unspent funds ? despite the fact that the program operates on a reimbursement basis. PDA pays vendors up front and is reimbursed by the federal government once expenses are
incurred.

?The USDA?s decision was not just unexpected ? it was unlawful, and it has already caused serious harm to Pennsylvania?s agriculture industry,? state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said.

?This is about real people ? the farmers, producers, and rural communities who are now facing uncertainty as a result. These are hardworking men and women who put food on our tables, support local economies, and preserve our farmland for future generations."

According to the Shapiro administration, Pennsylvania is one of the only states in the country that uses LFPA funding exclusively to support in-state farmers ? ensuring every federal dollar stays local and directly supports Pennsylvania?s agricultural economy.