WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Fetterman and Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania have joined a coalition of lawmakers supporting a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to slash funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture programs.
The case, New Jersey et al. v. Vought et al., challenges the administration’s use of a federal rule — 2 C.F.R. § 200.340(a)(4) — to cancel programs it deemed misaligned with agency priorities. Opponents say the move undermines Congress’s constitutional authority over federal spending.
“Farmers in Pennsylvania and across the country plan their seasons and run their businesses around these programs. Pulling the rug out from under them isn’t just wrong, it’s destructive,” Fetterman said. Houlahan called the decision “simply cruel,” citing its impact on farmers and families who rely on food banks.
The lawmakers’ brief highlights the termination of the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which linked farmers to food banks across Pennsylvania. The loss ended partnerships such as one between Pleasant Lane Farms in Latrobe and the Westmoreland Food Bank, cutting off income for local producers and fresh food for families in need.
The filing was signed by more than a dozen Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Amy Klobuchar, Representative Angie Craig, and several members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation. The effort is backed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Feeding Pennsylvania, Chester County Food Bank, and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
NSAC Deputy Policy Director Sophia Kruszewski said the administration’s actions have “pushed countless farmers, ranchers, and communities to the brink,” while Feeding Pennsylvania CEO Julie Bancroft stressed that the loss of LFPA “hurt small family farms and food-insecure neighbors.”
Chester County Food Bank Director of Community Relations Nick Imbesi said his organization received more than $550,000 under LFPA, funds that were used to purchase dairy and protein from local farms. “With the loss of funding, CCFB had to stop purchasing from our local protein partners,” he said, warning that the program’s absence has left a noticeable gap.
The case is expected to test the limits of executive authority in reshaping programs Congress has funded, with potential implications for agriculture policy nationwide.
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