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.



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.

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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.