Agriculture
The Trump administration froze $22 million in funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development for LSU's project to make crops more readily available to those at risk of hunger.
March 2025: Calcasieu Parish Schools Stated Trump USDA Cuts Would Reduce Amount Of Produce They Bought From Local Farmers. According to KPLC, "Two programs totaling over $1 billion in federal funding have been cut by the U.S Department of Agriculture. One of them is the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, which provided around $660 million in funding for schools across the U.S to buy food from local farmers. Calcasieu Parish Schools received $100,000 in funding through the Local Food for Schools Program to purchase foods from local farmers. While cuts to the program won’t affects schools' ability to feed students, Calcasieu Schools Nutrition Program Director Jacqueline Richard says it will reduce the amount of locally-sourced products they serve. Over the past two years, they’ve used the funding to purchase food like cucumbers, strawberries, satsumas, ground beef and rice from Louisiana farmers. 'We used all the funds that we had available. We used them well. We built relationships with local farmers, and local vendors, and we’re really proud of the work we did to bring local foods to our students in Calcasieu,' Richard said." [KPLC, 3/14/25]
February 2025: Trump Administration Froze $22 Million In USAID Funding For LSU’s Research Initiative To Help Louisiana Farmers Grow More Resilient Crops. According to Louisiana Illuminator, "A $22 million project involving the LSU AgCenter has been paused while the Trump administration reviews spending at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). LSU is part of the Feed the Future Climate Resilient Cereals Innovational Lab, which researchers at Kansas State University lead. It seeks to make cereal crops – such as rice, wheat, miller and sorghum – more readily available to those at risk of hunger, according to an AgCenter blog post. 'As a result of the recent Executive Orders, the federal government is currently reviewing expenditures, and this project has been placed on hold,' LSU AgCenter spokeswoman Tobie Blanchard said in a statement to the Illuminator. 'As a contractor on this initiative, we are awaiting further guidance.' Projects seeking to breed climate-resilient crops are among the staples of the LSU AgCenter. While the Feed the Future project has an international focus, the school’s emphasis on climate-resilient crops also benefits Louisiana farmers whose lands are regularly impacted by hurricanes and other extreme weather events." [Louisiana Illuminator, 2/6/25]
February 2025: Louisiana Farmers Reported Losing Millions Of Dollars After Trump Cuts And Layoffs.
February 2025: Trump Spending Freeze Threatened Viability Of Environmental Protection Programs In New Orleans. According to WWL Louisiana, "City leaders are scrambling to find a solution as President Donald Trump's freeze on federal funding for environmental programs put millions of dollars for local projects at risk, according to NOLA.com. These include initiatives for coastal restoration, energy efficiency, bike infrastructure, and electric vehicle charging stations. Local nonprofits also face major cuts, with some fearing they'll be forced to shut down without the critical funds." [WWL Louisiana, 2/12/25]