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FNCS Acting Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps today highlighted the accomplishments of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service in 2018, from common-sense flexibilities for school meal providers to the agency’s vigorous response to provide food to the victims of coast-to-coast natural disasters.

Secretary Sonny Perdue today applauded the accomplishments made by USDA over the past year. USDA has continued enacting President Trump’s goals of regulatory reform, streamlining government, and refocusing USDA to be customer oriented.

Secretary Sonny Perdue today outlined USDA services available in the event of a government shutdown.

Acting FNCS Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps today highlighted the vital work FNS has done this year to provide food assistance to the millions of Americans impacted by unprecedented hurricanes and wildfires, as well as the numerous actions FNCS has taken to promote self-sufficiency, integrity, and customer service within federal nutrition programs.

FNS has selected Kansas State University to direct the Center for Food Safety in Child Nutrition Programs. The research resulting from this partnership will help improve food safety across all of USDA’s child nutrition programs, which serve billions of meals to children each year.

Families affected by Hurricane Harvey will soon be able to receive food packages containing nutritious, high-quality foods.

Families affected by Hurricane Harvey will soon be able to receive food packages containing nutritious, high-quality foods--100 percent grown and produced on farms in the U.S.

FNS and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission today announced a number of immediate actions as well as long-term plans for ensuring Texans affected by Hurricane Harvey have access to food through SNAP and the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

FNS is actively working with officials in Texas and Louisiana to ensure that people impacted by Hurricane Harvey have access to food now and after emergency operations are completed.

Secretary Sonny Perdue today named three individuals to take on leadership roles within the USDA's Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. Brandon Lipps will serve as the Administrator  and also as Acting Deputy Under Secretary until the Senate confirms a permanent presidential-nominated appointee.  In addition, Maggie Lyons will serve as Chief of Staff and senior advisor to the Under Secretary, while Kailee Tkacz will serve as policy advisor. 

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the USDA Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center at the University of Kentucky awarded $1.3 million in grants to help reduce child food insecurity in 17 rural communities. The funding, ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, will help these rural communities implement creative strategies to improve access to federal nutrition assistance for families and children. Secretary Vilsack made the announcement during a panel discussion on the current state of food and nutrition in America hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center.

In a speech at the National Farmers Union Convention today, Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of $96.8 million in grants to fund innovative projects designed to support specialty crop producers, local food entrepreneurs, and farm to school efforts, which in turn will increase access to healthy, nutritious food for American families and children.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that up to $2.5 million is available to establish the USDA Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center. This competitive grant is part of USDA's efforts to reduce childhood food insecurity in rural communities in America.