Prairie State Wire

The Trump Administration has canceled funding intended for the Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement. This program aimed to support over 4,000 Illinois schools and 1,250 child care sites in acquiring fresh food from local farmers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a termination notice to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) regarding this grant, which would have provided $26.3 million through 2028.

Governor JB Pritzker criticized the decision: “Donald Trump and Republicans are taking money out of Illinois farmers’ pockets, giving it to billionaires for tax breaks, and throwing away locally-grown, nutritious food that helps keep our kids fed at school.” He added that despite these challenges, Illinois remains committed to ensuring students have necessary resources.

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders expressed disappointment: “The decision to cancel this funding is deeply disappointing and a disservice to Illinois children, families, and farmers.” He emphasized the importance of these grants in providing fresh food while supporting the state's agricultural economy.

This grant was part of a second round of funding designed to include child care centers. ISBE had signed an agreement on January 30 for $26.3 million, but those funds will no longer be available. Of this amount, schools were set to receive about $17.8 million and child care institutions around $8.5 million over three years.

Despite this setback, Illinois' existing Local Food for Schools grant totaling $7.4 million remains active until January 31, 2026. This ongoing grant has benefited approximately 2,100 schools serving over one million students by purchasing locally-grown food from various farms across the state.