HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii farmers and food security advocates are calling on state lawmakers to pass a funding bill that mirror’s programs recently cancelled by federal funding cuts.
According to a report by Honolulu Civil Beat, recent federal cuts halted $1 billion in federal food spending.
Last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) halted approximately $660 million in funding for two vital USDA programs, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement, and Local Food for Schools.
The programs provided adequate funding to both schools and food banks, allowing them to purchase local produce from farmers and ranchers to feed struggling families, a program that was particularly useful in Hawaii.
The federal USDA cuts are expected to drain Hawaii schools, emergency feeding organizations, and this year’s local food system of $3 million. Advocates had hoped that funding would continue to support Hawaii, a state in which one in three households were reported as food insecure this past year.
Advocates are now pleading for Hawaii’s state lawmakers to set aside funding in order to establish similar programs at a state level.
To read the full story on Civil Beat, click here.
Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
发表回复