Governor Josh Shapiro has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), challenging its abrupt termination of Pennsylvania’s Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) Program, a $13 million agreement supporting 189 Pennsylvania farms and supplying 14 food banks with fresh, locally grown food.

At a press conference held at the Share Food Program in Philadelphia, Shapiro was joined by Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and local farmers to announce the lawsuit and reaffirm his commitment to Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector and food security.

The Shapiro Administration had sought to reverse the USDA’s decision through multiple appeals, including direct outreach to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and in-person meetings in Washington, D.C., but received no response.

“When the USDA abruptly terminated our agreement without cause, they ripped away a reliable source of income for farmers and cut off funding that would have provided over 4.4 million meals to Pennsylvania families,” said Shapiro. “That’s not just bad policy — it’s a broken promise. A deal is a deal.”

The legal action aims to restore the LFPA program and ensure continued federal support for Pennsylvania’s farmers and food banks.