How have US government food purchases for food banks changed?

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US Government Food Purchases for Food Banks Have Significantly Decreased

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has substantially reduced its food purchases for food banks, schools, and indigenous reservations under the Biden administration compared to the Trump administration's 2020 figures. In fiscal year 2020, the USDA expended $8.38 billion on nearly 4.29 billion pounds of food for these programs. However, by fiscal year 2022, food spending by the USDA saw a decline of nearly 42%, falling to approximately $3.49 billion, marking the lowest expenditure since 2018.
Declining Poundage of Food Purchased

The volume of food acquired by the USDA has mirrored the decrease in spending. In the last fiscal year prior to September 2022, the agency purchased only 2.43 billion pounds of food. This represents a significant drop from the nearly 4.29 billion pounds procured in fiscal year 2020. This year, 2022, the USDA is on track to purchase just over half the quantity of food it bought during the peak of the pandemic.
Insufficient Additional Funding to Offset Shortfall

While the USDA announced an additional $943 million in food purchases through 2024 using Commodity Credit Corporation funds, this injection is insufficient to counteract the overall reduction. This supplementary funding still leaves the USDA poised to spend less on food in the coming years than it did in 2020 and 2021. This is occurring despite a continued and ongoing need for these provisions.
Impact on Food Distribution Networks

The reduced government procurement has a direct impact on organizations like the Greater Chicago Food Depository. This major distributor of food to local pantries expects to receive just over a third of the food it obtained from the USDA during fiscal year 2021. This shortfall forces food pantries to purchase more food at higher costs due to inflation, leading to inconsistent supplies of essential items and increased demand from individuals seeking assistance.

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How have US government food purchases for food banks changed?

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