USDA cuts two programs worth roughly $1B, impacting local schools, food banks and farmers

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A major shift in federal funding impacts local schools, food banks and local farmers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is cutting two programs worth roughly $1 billion.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

One of them provided roughly $660 million for schools to buy food from local farms.

The other helped food banks across the country, including the local Northern Illinois Food Bank.

SEE ALSO | Trump administration ends reimbursements for Illinois food programs

They told ABC7 the cuts come at a time when many are struggling to put food on the table.

To date, federal funding has allowed the Northern Illinois Food Bank to give out nearly 1 million meals to neighbors facing hunger.

In a statement, the Greater Chicago Food Depository said the impact on their operations is minimal but called it a huge loss for the small farms who benefited from this program.