Rep. Sarah McBride and The Food Bank of Delaware address federal food aid freeze
DELAWARE – President Donald Trump’s recent cut to food aid has state officials speaking out on how this could affect us locally.
President Trump has halted scheduled shipments of food aid and funding through USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program. For Delawareans, that means a $2 million cut. Now while the president has made it clear this doesn’t affect Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, Delaware officials are saying it hurts them just the same.
Funding Freeze
“This is not an abstract issue, this is not a partisan issue, this is about families, working parents, seniors, veterans, children- people who rely on food banks to get through the month.” That was Delaware’s Representative Sarah McBride’s response to Trump’s recent funding freeze.
President Trump said back in January in part, “In addition, there was a short-term pause or funding freeze on certain discretionary spending payments such as government grants only for us to quickly look at the scams, dishonesty, waste, and abuse that’s taken place in our government for too long.”
More than Meals
Representative McBride says over 600,000 meals won’t make it to family tables, and that the Food Bank provides more than meals, but hope, dignity, and a sense of community.
“Now with shipments frozen and no clarity on whether they will be restored, they are in uncharted territory. The Food Bank of Delaware is not uncertain whether they will receive 14 truckloads over the next 4 months.”
Healthy Habits
Vice President of Communications for the Food Bank of Delaware Kim Turner says this news is devastating, and many they serve suffer from health issues, and these meals keep them balanced.
“So, 19 shipments of food that we were scheduled to get between April and July of 2025 have been cancelled. This represents about 29% of the loads we were expected to receive… Some of the food that was included in those loads, included milk, chicken, turkey, pork chops, fruit cheese. Really the foods that our people appreciate getting. health foods.”
Administration to Action
Representative McBride is calling on the USDA to take action. “The trump administration has broken their promise time and time again to the American people ripping funding, and literal food from the hands of my constituents. The USDA must restore theses shipments in funding before the consequences become dire to families across Delaware.”
The Food Bank of Delaware says they will continue to work with leaders at the state and local levels, but donations are dire at this time. They say for every one dollar donated, they can help 3 neighbors in need, and every cent counts. Food Bank officials say we can help by holding food drives or donating online.
