Education Leaders Sound Alarm that USDA Reorganization Plan Could Disrupt Administration of Free School Meals, WIC
WASHINGTON –Today, House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and House Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) raised concerns about U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins’ proposal to reorganize the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
Specifically, the decision to create a new “Food and Nutrition Administration” and relocate current FNS staff will make it more difficult to administer the National School Lunch Program, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program and other child nutrition initiatives under the Committee’s jurisdiction.
“Based on the unintended consequences of the [Economic Research Service] and [National Institute of Food and Agriculture] relocation, there is no reason to expect that a widespread relocation will not have similar negative impacts on operations, agency capacity, and diversity of the workforce,” wrote the Ranking Members. “[These programs] are vital for families across the country; they have consistently been shown to improve health outcomes and reduce food insecurity.”
The Members noted that they previously raised similar concerns and requested detailed information from USDA last year following the announcement of the Department-wide reorganization plan but received largely incomplete and unsubstantiated responses from the Department. Additionally, they pointed to the failed 2019 relocation of USDA research agencies, which resulted in significant staff losses, reduced agency capacity, and operational disruptions.
To read the full letter, click here.
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