USDA cuts $1 billion in food assistance funding amid rising hunger
- Local organizations are already facing significant funding losses due to cuts in USDA assistance programs.
- Food pantries like Murphy's Giving Market are struggling to provide enough food as federal funding diminishes.
- Continued advocacy and support for food assistance programs are crucial to combat rising hunger in the community.
In 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture decreased funding by over $1 billion for vital food assistance programs, impacting local food banks and organizations across the country. This reduction includes specific cuts of $420 million to the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement, which supports food banks, and $660 million to the Local Food for Schools program that provides meals for hungry children. Organizations like Murphy's Giving Market in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, which serves around 3,000 individuals each month, are already experiencing the repercussions of these cuts. Their founder, Desiree Murphy-Morrissey, has expressed significant concerns over the diminishing federal support, particularly because 25% of their food supply comes from food banks such as Philabundance.