Readers Respond: Oregon lawmakers should step up for food bank cuts

Published 11:30 am Monday, March 31, 2025

We asked readers to weigh in on federal food bank funding cuts, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it will cancel $500 million in shipments to food banks nationwide, cutting off a critical supply chain for food banks and schools across the country.

About 66% of more than 230 reader respondents said they donate to food banks in Oregon; while about 7% reported using food banks to supplement their groceries. About 26% said neither.

Nearly 76% of respondents said they are very concerned about the impact of federal food bank funding cuts on communities in Oregon, while 14% said they are not concerned at all, 7% said they are somewhat concerned, and 3% are undecided.

About 71% said they believe the issue will significantly impact food security in their community; 15% said it will not; about 11% said it will only affect food security a little. About 3% are unsure.

About 74% of readers said they think the federal government should support food banks in times of crisis. About 12% said it should be somewhat supportive; 6% said it shouldn’t support them at all; and 6% said it shouldn’t support them much. About 1% are unsure.

About 38% of respondents said they strongly support the state of Oregon using funds to make up for the federal cuts; 32% said they somewhat support it; 23% do not support it; and 7% are undecided.

About 69% said the reduction in funding for the USDA program that helps food banks and schools buy directly from local farmers is a setback for Oregon’s local economy and food security; 15% said it won’t have much impact; 11% said it’s a minor setback; and 4% are undecided.

About 76% of respondents agreed that advocating for policy changes to maintain emergency food shipments could help mitigate the impact of the disruption on food bank. About 74% would encourage community donations, and about 64% would support increasing funding for local food banks.

Here is what reader respondents have to say about the federal food bank funding cuts. Responses have been edited for clarity.

“We need to keep fighting for all food security on international, national and local levels.”

“I’m very concerned, people are hurting, the American government should care.”

“How does anybody think that not feeding our society is a good thing? Where have we gone wrong? Feeding individuals who do not have enough to eat is never ever a bad thing.”

“In a country like the USA, to cut back on food for the hungry to justify tax cuts for the wealthy is disgusting.”

“Tell the deep-pocketed liberals to step up like we conservatives do. Take responsibility for your own home, backyard and community. Open your check book, spend some money and get government out of the way.”

“I think it’s unusually cruel treatment of poor, disadvantaged people.”

“Students can’t learn when they are hungry. Our elderly deserve to be taken care of not force to choose between food or medicine.”

“The Oregon Food Bank needs to operate with the same efficiencies and oversight as other businesses and needs to vet recipients more closely.”

“Feeding people should be the highest priority for our society. I am happy to pay taxes to feed my neighbors. It’s appalling that the “Christians” in power don’t follow Jesus.”

“When we take care of people suffering from food insecurity, we help the entire community. The federal government disruption in funds hurts our entire country.”

“There is no such thing as other people’s children. We should act accordingly.”

“The way we help those struggling is an indicator of how well our society functions. We win or lose together, always.”

“Hire staff and trucks to take local donations instead of relying on free federal money.”

“Federal, state, and local governments should consider re-evaluating all budget priorities including the participation in all areas of social food distribution.”

“Republicans are among food-insecure, too. Trump continues to hurt the people who voted for him… when will they see that?”

“I am a teacher and parent, and I am so so worried about food insecurities. The lack of communication at the federal level on its reasoning will only be divisive, and we have to come together as a community to cry outrage against this lawless act for our most sensitive populations, especially post-pandemic when this has only been heightened and we are aware of that. This is nonsensical and scary. I fear, also, for the free lunch programs many school kids depend on for meals. fed is always best; that along with programs like these are what’s best for kids and our citizens.”

“As a volunteer at a food pantry I see clients lining up at 7 a.m. to be in line for a 10 a.m. opening. People wait for up to an hour in line to be served.”

“It’s an awful time to take food out of people’s mouths when people are struggling due to high inflation.”

“This hurts local farmers who supplied the aid to the federal government. How can Trump and Musk, very rich people, justify taking food from hungry kids? Just like they cut off USAid and put millions of children, and US farmers at risk, and now they are putting our very own children at risk? Unconscionable!”

“There is tremendous food waste and there needs to be more programs and laws regarding food that is being thrown out to be sent to food banks and pantries to help the hungry. There needs to be more abilities to gather food waste from local stores and restaurants and any other form of business that sells food. So much food is thrown out from stores and there needs to be incentives and laws surrounding food in Oregon if you’re going to operate a food or grocery business.”

“How about Oregon legislators stop overspending, overtaxing and destroying the local small businesses with so much regulation.”

“Food banks are a major staple for some Oregon families. We should do everything in our power to help those in need.”

“The Oregon Food Bank is too political. There is reason to believe they discriminate in service delivery. I would rather they be defunded, and other charities step up. We have some great ones in Oregon.”

“Food insecurity affects everyone but especially children as they learn and develop. As a full society, we need to care and support our neighbors.”

“The food insecure in our communities are our neighbors. We have a responsibility to extend our resources to those in need to ensure their health and survival, because that is good and right.”

“People who really need it I think will find assistance, I know too many people getting assistance who just need to work a little harder, raise their own food or pick up a second job. The more you give people, the lazier they become. I am on a fixed income, raise a lot of my own food , and cut spending. No cable TV, go to the library for free internet, use a cell phone you buy in a grocery store. There are many other ways to keep expenses down.”

“How can the wealthiest country in the world have leadership that takes food from the hungry? While grocery prices continue to climb and Trump has done nothing to lower prices. It makes me sick.”

“Food insecurity effects more people than people realize. Reducing the assistance effects the whole community, not just those needing assistance.”

“The Trump administration is demonstrating how little they care for the vulnerable and for farmers.”

“There needs to be some income verification. I know of people who earn good incomes who go to the food bank because they can. It’s wrong. I also have seen people that go from food bank to food bank in different cities since no one checks any identification. Yes hunger exists, but people are taking advantage”

“This is another hit to immigrants coming to Oregon to work on local farms. Food insecurity is already high for many. There will always be people in our communities going through tough times financially that need help short or long term.”

“Emergency is the key word and important. Taxes are so high that as a retired person, I cannot afford any additional expenses. I live in Multnomah County.”

“This is an outrageous thing for the federal government to do.”

“The new policy is cruel. It is wrong and needs to be restarted.”

“The current administration is making decisions that hurt everyday hardworking Americans so it can prop up billionaires. Policies that provide socialism for the rich at the expense of the poor are bad for America.”

“I think it should be handled by the state.”

“Republican politicians are so out of touch with reality.”

“State leaders have created an environment where Oregonians are over taxed and living here has become way more expensive. It’s sad many must choose between putting food on the table, housing or paying medical bills. I blame our local political leaders—not our federal government. Other states are doing well. Oregon continues to struggle.”

“This is just more blatant stupidity and spite from a hateful and divisive president. It’s not the American way. What happened to building unity? What happened to kindness and caring?”

“People need to recognize it’s the current administration and Republicans causing this so they will quit voting for them. Having states step in and increasing state taxes will not solve the problem.”

“The cruelty of the Trump Administration knows no bounds.”

“Cruelty is the hallmark of the Trump Administration.”

“Eating a meal in 2025 should not be a privilege; it should be a fundamental right. Maybe the feds should build one less war ship next year and spend that money on social programs.”

“I’m very worried for so many of our students who eat genetically modified food at school and take home the food.”

“I am incredibly angry at the illegal cuts being done by this administration. There is no excuse for the arguably riches nation in the world to let its citizens go hungry–especially to fund tax cuts for people who do not deserve or need one penny more than they already have. It is outrageous that anyone should go without food in the year 2025.”

“The very fact that Trump and his billionaire cronies seem to be oblivious to the needs of anyone but the rich when it comes to funding programs that deal with farmers with goods to sell, hungry children that need to be nourished and hungry people struggling to put food on their tables shows how far we have strayed as a country from our founding fathers’ visions for us. How sad that our new leaders cannot see that in able for this country to have a strong future we must insure that everyone is well fed and healthy.”

“There’s no reason why food banks can’t continue to purchase supplies locally even if feds reduce funding. State should increase their share.”

“Food is a basic human need. If the governments wants to fire half their workforce, they need to make sure they’re finding food programs. They should have been anyway. Hunger could be eradicated if billionaires paid their taxes.”

“The disruption is devastating to communities, schools, and farmers. What on earth is the administration thinking?”

“Oregon Food Bank’s management of the last round of state funding needs to be thoroughly investigated. They spent a large portion of their appropriations in the first 6 months. Local food banks know those funds were not used to buy food for distribution throughout Oregon as their allocations were diminishing when it was known OFB had the funds to maintain the local’s allotments.”

“This is unnecessary and cruel.”

“Oregon Food Bank needs to step up and spend their own money on purchasing food other than what they charge for.”

“In addition to these cuts is appalling coupled with all the federal layoffs!! There are other ways to cut the federal and state budget—which I do support, balancing budget is important—but seems no thought is being put into these decisions.”

“It’s a disgrace that USA should be unable to provide basic human necessities to citizens. Food and medical care are not the places to cut the budget.”

“Food should never ever be a bipartisan issue. When 37% of Americans don’t have $400 in their pockets to cover any kind of emergency, the rich and the oligarchs need to show their humanity to help nourish the poor and starving so that they can feel better to stand up on their own. Lack of good nutrition shows up in the theft and petty crimes occurring daily. Candy and fast food never produce a refined citizen.”

“I am a volunteer and board member at our county food bank. This will devastate our community. As it is, we can only afford to hand out one box of shelf-stable food per month with some frozen protein and vegetables. With this disruption there will be no longer the frozen meats, frozen fruit or vegetables fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese and at times milk. This will affect everyone from the very young to our elderly. This will affect programs such as Meals on Wheels, Head Start, and more. In the last year our small county had 16,000 new families sign up to receive food from our food bank. We expect with these drastic cuts we will be seeing a lot more families needing assistants. As a board member we will have to make some tough decisions on how we can serve everyone the funds that we have. We already do fundraisers, our community is wonderful in their commitment to help others in need. Unfortunately, we can only give what we can afford. I pray that the state will help us, and that if they do that it’s used to purchase the needed food that all the food banks and pantries desperately need.”

“Americans should stop voting for any politician that supports cutting food to needy people. It’s un-Christian.”

“Oregon has a “dependency” problem—taxing—to control, not assist. We survived prior to any dependency funding through Churches, and many other venues.”

“With the wealth of this country we should all be ashamed that people have food insecurity or be made to feel ashamed because of it. It is the wealth inequality and greed that keeps us from solving the problems of hunger and food insecurity in America.”

“The pain is the point here. The president wants to inflict pain, pure and simple. No logical, business, ethical or religious reason for this.”

“Families need to be responsible for feeding their families. Go get a job.”

“The less federal government is involved in our local decisions, the more efficient our local communities and local governments can operate.”

“Food banks should be for legal citizens or victims of abuse only.”

“It’s largely families that need food bank assistance. Why would anyone be against providing hungry children food.”

“Relying upon donors to provide enough funds to head off food insecurity is simply not possible.”

“The public should get involved in studying and participating in addressing root causes of food insecurity. We are a rich country. Food insecurity should be a manageable problem. The question is, how at local regional and state levels? What are people willing to do to learn about it and participate in logical means of addressing root causes? It is not only a federal issue. Fair taxation, wages, housing are all big factors.”

“The cuts are short-sighted.”

“No one should go hungry, we live in one of the wealthy countries and should be giving for the greater good. This reduction harms the most vulnerable, children and the elderly.”

“i volunteer at the food bank pantry. The food insecurity is real. we give them so little already but they are extremely grateful. Food is a basic need and American as a whole need to provide.”

“The food assistant system is highly abused, and it will be good to provide cuts for the system to optimize it.”

“I volunteer at the food bank, and I had heard from the program about four or five months ago, the demand on food banks had slowed and they didn’t need as many volunteers. Now, with Trump’s needless tariffs and rising prices, people are going to rely more heavily on food banks again, but this administration is cutting those deliveries—just when people need it. And they are doing it for no good reason.”

“Just that we as a people need to care for the poor, aged, ill and disabled people. Churches will say they do this work but a church can’t fund kidney dialysis or chemotherapy or disaster relief. They can help on the edges but the costs are huge and that is why our taxes do this. So many people who through no fault of their own will suffer because of what the GOP is letting Trump do.”

“Encourage business development for jobs; discourage enabling people to continue living on the street without making an effort to get off the street and working. States should be able to solve the problem without handouts from the federal government.”

“The Trump administration is cruel. They ignore the benefits of removing food insecurity and the benefits to the economy and healthcare costs by providing health food options to people in need.”

“Ensure work requirements for all welfare recipients, and support work training to provide personal self sufficiency. Stop all the free benefits—you’re entitled only to the results of your contribution to general society.”

“Farmers and people who eat need to speak loudly to ensure public policy and funds support a he’s food network and food security for all.”

“The Trump Administration considers assisting food banks a waste of government dollars. It’s very apparent this administration doesn’t care about food insecurity, which is hurting families in need.”

“The Extension Service extends information on many food-related activities: 4-H and Master Gardeners, Food Preservation, Cooking, Horticulture classes, Health benefits. A concerted state-wide program to encourage people to make use of the incredible offerings and services of the Extension Service would leverage objective information and encourage people to volunteer. Food is the ultimate social organizing tool.”

“I am on the board of a small independent food bank in Lake Oswego, where you might think food insecurity is not an issue. We’ve experienced 125% growth in the number of households we’re serving in 2023-2024, and this year’s numbers signal another 50% jump in demand. The economy, inflation, cost of housing—the need is not going away. Anything the federal government does that makes it harder for people to quite literally survive, is awful.”

“Cutting food benefits for those families most in need, particularly if the ‘savings’ ultimately fund tax cuts for those who need is least, is incredibly cruel.”