USDA could use Section 32 funds right now to purchase food for food banks -- and could use it for SNAP. [View all]
While the regime argues that it cannot use Section 32 funds to fund SNAP, it is failing to do something that it appears pretty clear it can do. That is, buy food for food banks.
I know some object to the use of AI summaries, so take the following with the appropriate grain of salt.
FWIW, I did some additional googling, and found nothing that would argue against using Section 32 funds to make purchases for food banks. Seems it is totally doable and unquestionably consistent with its purpose. So why aren't they doing it??
I also think there are grounds for using these funds for SNAP in the current emergency. Given that 39% of SNAP recipients are children, it sure sounds to me like making up the SNAP contingency fund shortfall from Section 32 funds is completely consistent with one of the Section 32 purposes, which is to fund child nutrition programs. I'm sure there are brighter people than me on Congressional staffs and in AG offices who are researching the extent to which funding SNAP in this crisis is consistent with Congressional Intent.
In the meantime, here are some AI bits that relate to using Section 32 funds to stock food banks:
As of late October/early November 2025, the USDA's Section 32 fund had a balance of over $23 billion.
Section 32 is funded by 30% of the prior year's customs duties.
The fund's balance has recently been a subject of discussion during a government shutdown, where:
$300 million was transferred from the fund in October 2025 to support the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.
An additional $450 million was allocated to WIC in early November 2025.
The Trump administration declined to use a significant portion of the remaining Section 32 funds to cover a shortfall in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November, citing the need to maintain funding for existing child nutrition programs.
The primary beneficiaries of Section 32 funds are child nutrition programs and the original purpose was to support the farm sector by diverting agricultural surpluses from normal channels of trade.
Key aspects of the Section 32 fund's purpose:
Original Intent: Enacted in 1935, Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act permanently appropriates funds (30% of annual customs receipts) to encourage the export and domestic consumption of U.S. agricultural commodities and re-establish farmers' purchasing power.
Primary Beneficiary Today: The largest portion of Section 32 funds is regularly transferred by Congress to the Food and Nutrition Service to help meet the entitlement spending requirements of various child nutrition programs, such as the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs.
Surplus Removals: A smaller portion of the funds is used by the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase surplus commodities ("bonus commodities" ) which are then distributed to domestic food assistance programs, including food banks, schools, and soup kitchens, to support farm prices and provide food to the needy.
Shutdown Contingency: During recent government shutdowns, the availability and use of Section 32 funds for other programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) became a point of contention and legal debate. The USDA has argued in court filings that Section 32 funds are not a contingency fund for SNAP and that using billions of dollars for that purpose would put child nutrition programs at an "unacceptable risk".
While food banks may receive "bonus" commodities purchased with Section 32 funds as part of normal operations, the fund itself is primarily dedicated to farm support and child nutrition programs, not explicitly as an emergency reserve for food banks during a shutdown.
It is certainly telling that this regime is happy to illegally withhold and redirect funds appropriated by Congress in whatever way it pleases, but when it comes to feeding hungry children (and 39% of those on SNAP are children) it refuses to use funds that are in fact intended for child nutrition programs.
It begs the question one must ask over, and over, and over again. WTF is WRONG with these people!!!
And it sure sounds to me like there is PLENTY of money there. If after transferring about 750 million to WIC they have 23 billion available, it sure sounds to me like the fund could cover the additional 6 billion and still have 17 f-ing billion available.
ON EDIT:
According to the regime, haven't we collected over 100 billion in customs duties this year? That is probably a lie, but when talking to the regime, doesn't that mean that come 1/1/2026, 30% of that is going to go into the Section 32 fund??
So WTF is the Problem????
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