Trump’s USDA Halts 20 Truckloads of Food, Leaving Cleveland Food Bank With Less to Distribute
In late March 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Trump administration abruptly canceled a scheduled delivery of 20 semi-truck loads of food — about 553,000 pounds valued at approximately $1 million — that was destined for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank as part of the Emergency Food Assistance Program. (greaterclevelandfoodbank.org)
The canceled shipments were to include essential staples like milk, eggs, chicken, pork and turkey. Food bank leadership warned the move will reduce the amount of nutritious food available to local pantries and community partners just as demand continues to climb amid persistent inflation and ongoing food insecurity. (Facebook)
Cleveland’s mayor publicly criticized the decision as “deeply disappointing,” emphasizing the human impact on families who rely on emergency food support. (wkyc.com)
The cancellations are part of broader USDA budget adjustments that have paused or cut emergency food purchases nationwide, forcing many food banks to anticipate lighter inventories and fewer resources to meet escalating community needs. (reuters.com)
In Northeast Ohio and across the country, these federal cuts complicate efforts by nonprofits to provide reliable aid — raising concerns about both short-term food access and the long-term stability of food assistance networks. (reuters.com)