Trump admin makes cuts to USDA grants for public schools. Will it impact Horry County?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will cut two federal programs that spent over $1 billion annually to help schools and food banks buy directly from local farmers.
This will make waves across public schools in the United States, including in Horry County, SC.
According to spokesperson for Horry County Schools, Lisa Bourcier, the last funding they received was $197,307.00 from the USDA's Local Foods Program in the 2023-24 school year.
These funds were spent on food from Senn Brothers Produce, a locally-sourced produce distributor, out of Columbia, SC, she wrote in an email to The Sun News.
Senn Brothers declined to comment on the matter by phone on Friday morning.
Bourcier confirmed that this cut will not affect HCS's Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, which is how students receive free breakfast and lunch during this school year. CEP allows breakfast and lunch to be offered to all enrolled students at no cost.
This school year, CEP in South Carolina has expanded to include students who receive Medicaid benefits, enabling all HCS schools to qualify for the 2024-25 school year, she wrote in an email.
'Participation in this program also eliminates the requirement for parents/guardians to fill out Free and Reduced Meal applications,' Bourcier wrote.
A follow-up email to the USDA about how the cuts will impact South Carolina schools was met with a statement from a spokesperson saying that this move marks the end of a pandemic-era program and 'a return to long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives.'
'This isn't an abrupt shift — just last week, USDA released over half a billion in previously obligated funds for [Local Food Purchase Assistance] and [Local Food for Schools] to fulfill existing commitments and support ongoing local food purchases,' a USDA spokesperson wrote.
The agency said it remains focused on its core mission of strengthening food security, supporting agricultural markets, and ensuring access to nutritious food.
'Unlike the Biden Administration, which funneled billions in [Commodity Credit Corporation] funds into short-term programs with no plan for longevity, USDA is prioritizing stable, proven solutions that deliver lasting impact,' the statement read. 'The COVID era is over — USDA's approach to nutrition programs will reflect that reality moving forward.'
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