Lawmakers press USDA head on 'food shortage crisis' facing tribes nationwide

Congressional funding chiefs on Monday pressed U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for more information on what they’re describing as a “food shortage crisis” facing tribes nationwide.

House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) led the letter requesting the information, along with the ranking members on each committee and subcommittee heads on both sides.

The letter particularly singles out the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, stating tribes are in “a dire situation” due to a “failure to ensure food has been received by Tribes in a timely manner” via the program.  

“The program serves some of the most vulnerable people in our country, and recipients have reported bare shelves, having received expired food items, and inconsistent food deliveries for over four months,” the letter stated. “Tribes are deeply worried about when food will arrive and when USDA will resolve this situation. It is the federal government’s responsibility to uphold its trust and treaty obligations to Tribes, and this situation must be resolved immediately.”

Lawmakers also raised concerns about “similar potential issues with the Commodity Supplemental Food Program,” noting “seniors rely on this supplemental food, and any delay is unacceptable.”

The Hill has reached out to Cole's and Murray's offices for further information. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not returned a request for comment.

The letter comes not long after Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers calling on the USDA to “take immediate action” to “restore food deliveries and engage in meaningful consultation with impacted Tribes,” while raising concerns about the impact of the agency cutting down on food delivery contractors.

“In March 2024, USDA consolidated the food delivery contractors to one sole-source contractor, Paris Brothers, Inc. in Kansas City, MO,” they wrote. And since that change took effect in April, many participating Indian tribal organizations have “experienced some type of delivery disruption,” the senators said, citing the National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations.

“To fill the gaps, some Tribal families are working with local food banks to provide basic necessities. Some Tribal governments are even using emergency funds to purchase food for impacted families without assurances that they will be reimbursed,” the letter stated, while also calling on the agency to “promptly establish plans to prevent a situation like this from occurring in the future.”

Among the questions raised by appropriators in their Monday letter were inquiries about the changes to contractors by the agency, actions taken to address delays in food delivery and the impact of cutting down on contractors on other food distribution programs. 

“The uncertainty for our Tribal communities who rely so heavily on these food deliveries cannot continue. We expect you to use all available resources and authorities to rectify this situation as quickly as possible,” Cole and others said Monday. “If you find you need additional resources and authorities, please notify us immediately, as we want to work with you to resolve this expeditiously.”