Education Leaders Demand Accountability from USDA, and Answers on Efforts to Limit Access to Free School Meals

Education Leaders Demand Accountability from USDA, and Answers on Efforts to Limit Access to Free School Meals

WASHINGTON - Today, all Committee Democrats called for an immediate, long-overdue oversight hearing with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leadership to examine the Administration's budget proposal for child nutrition programs and other matters within the Committee's jurisdiction. The hearing would also explore the Department's reorganization efforts, including its proposal to reorganize and convert the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) into the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA).

In the four years since the last time USDA leadership testified before the Committee, the Trump Administration has taken repeated actions to dismantle and cut nutrition programs that are a lifeline for families and farmers across the country. Additionally, the Administration has arbitrarily suspended grants and programs that allegedly go against executive orders that assail diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility policies.

"The opportunity to hear from the Department is critical as its own analysis of more than 14,000 public comments that were submitted last year during the comment period for the Department-wide reorganization revealed widespread concern over the reorganization," wrote the Members.

In addition to requesting a hearing with USDA leadership, 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) reiterated their demands for information about USDA's restructuring of FNS (now referred to as FNA). On May 27, 2026, Scott and Bonamici sent a letter to USDA Secretary Rollins, raising serious concerns and demanding immediate answers.

Instead of complying with the Members' requests, USDA Deputy Secretary Alexander Vaden sent a letter that ignored their questions and mirrored responses sent to other Members in a related but different inquiry. The response letter also falsely insinuated that the Members could have asked their questions at a roundtable held by a committee they do not serve on.

"Nutrition programs are a fundamental lifeline for families across the country; more than 22 million children receive free and reduced-price meals while in school and an expected 21 million children will receive grocery benefits this summer," concluded Scott and Bonamici. "This is the second letter to the Administration in which our legitimate questions were largely unanswered."

To read the letter to Chairman Walberg requesting a hearing, click here.

To read the letter to USDA Secretary Rollings requesting answers to Committee Democrats' inquiries, click here.

Press Contact

Democratic Press Office, 202-226-0853