USDA cuts 250,000 pounds of food locally

Columbia Gorge Food Bank in the Port of The Dalles

By Tom Peterson 

The Dalles, Ore., April 1, 2025 — Food banks went from frozen to cancelled in recent weeks as the USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins assisted by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency approved $1 billlion in cut backs at the Commodities Credit Corporation. 

Columbia Gorge Food Bank Exec Dir. Breen Goodwin

Here locally, that means 250,000 fewer pounds of food annually for some 6,400 people who seek assistance for food scarcity monthly, according to Columbia Gorge Food Banks’ Breen Goodwin, Executive Director.

Foods that come from Commodity Credit make up about 17 percent of the total food that is distributed through food bank warehouses, of which there are a total of 21 in Oregon and Clark County, Wash, Breen said.

At the statewide level, the loss of food is estimated at 4 million pounds.  

Columbia Gorge Food Bank located in The Port of The Dalles is the Regional Food Bank serving Sherman, Wasco and Hood River counties. As part of the Oregon Food Bank Network, it connects statewide food resources to 35 local pantries and partners — ensuring that nourishing food reaches our community here in the Gorge. 

“The Commodity Credit Corporation - and the funding for that was frozen in February, and as of late last week, it moved from frozen to being cancelled,” Breen said this morning, April 1.  “What that means for our community is it will disrupt an essential food stream and source and what comes through to us. They’re basic building block ingredients such as beans and milk.”

These cuts primarily affect programs funded through the USDA Commodity Credit Corporation, including The Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program .

“We hear from our community members that they are already struggling,” she said. “With less food, it’s harder to feed families and it is more challenging for them to make ends meet in other ways.” 

USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins

The decision to implement these funding cuts was made by the Trump administration, specifically through actions taken by the USDA and Rollins. The administration's stated rationale centers on reducing government spending and reallocating resources to prioritize "stable, proven solutions that deliver lasting impact," as opposed to continuing short-term programs initiated during previous administrations and amidst the pandemic.

President Donald Trump has been clear that he intends to reduce federal employees and government spending significantly while adding jobs by rekindling manufacturing in the US through taxing imports such as automobiles and car parts, lumber, steel and aluminum, for example.

File Photo - In 2020, Virginia McKay, a 25-plus year veteran with Windy River Gleaners, was at it again this morning, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. Food boxes were prepared for some 950 people in East The Dalles. Cars were lined up past the overpass on Old Highway 30 at 9 a.m.

The question remains how much will our most vulnerable communities suffer during the transition if and when the Trump policies succeed in achieving those goals… when will those jobs materialize and how many Citizens of the US will rise on that tide? How many will divert poverty by finding good paying jobs that can support a family and the cost of housing.  And what happens to those who are disabled or incapacitated - our most vulnerable?

“Hunger is a result of poverty…,” said Breen on Tuesday. “Poverty is driven by root issues - housing, health care and employment. The solution for poverty is much more than having more food at a pantry - it is about creating stable employment , affordable housing and access to health care - we alone will not solve the problem of hunger with more food. We have to work in partnership to get at the root issues of poverty.” 

“Were still here,” she said. “There is still food on the shelf. For those who need to find support they can visit orgeonfoodfinder.org. For those that want to provide support - visit our website - columbiagorgefoodbank.org - or connect with food pantries in our area. Lastly, be an advocate - find ways to be involved in your community to be involved at the system level.”