A firestorm of outrage erupted today as Governor Phil Murphy and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin condemned the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s abrupt decision to eliminate two critical food security programs, stripping New Jersey of more than $26 million in funding that would have bolstered local farmers and provided fresh, nutritious food to schools and food banks.
The USDA’s move will cancel $9.9 million in Local Food Purchase Assistance funding and over $16.2 million in Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement funding for Fiscal Year 2025. The cuts will directly impact 46 New Jersey producers—32 of whom are from underserved communities—who had relied on these programs to connect their farm-fresh goods with children and families in need.
Governor Murphy did not mince words, calling the decision a direct attack on food security at a time when families are struggling to put meals on the table.
“Families across the nation are struggling to put food on the table, and our leaders should be strengthening food security—not tearing it apart,” Murphy declared. “Instead, the Trump Administration’s decision to cut these critical food programs will make it harder for vulnerable communities to access fresh and healthy food, deepening the crisis for those already facing food insecurity.”
Speaker Coughlin echoed the governor’s frustration, warning of dire consequences for both farmers and families.
“At a time when costs are rising and families are already struggling, this decision will only deepen the divide,” Coughlin said. “Abandoning these commitments not only jeopardizes the livelihoods of hardworking farmers, but also puts at risk the children who rely on fresh, locally sourced meals in their schools. Fighting food insecurity has been the cornerstone of my legislative career, and I share in the frustration of so many New Jerseyans facing the devastating consequences of this reckless move.”
The backlash was swift from state agricultural leaders as well.
“The elimination of these programs is deeply disappointing,” said NJDA Secretary Ed Wengryn. “This funding has played a vital role in linking New Jersey farms with schools and community feeding organizations. The result has been a stronger agricultural industry and healthier citizens. This decision undermines all of that progress.”
The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA)—known as Jersey Fresh for All in New Jersey—were designed to strengthen the state’s food supply chain by purchasing from historically underserved producers. These programs ensured that fresh, unprocessed or minimally processed foods reached children through school meal programs and supported food banks serving low-income families.
The USDA’s abrupt termination of these initiatives threatens to upend those efforts, cutting off funding that has not only supported local farmers but also sustained families in need.