Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program which will provide critical support to our farmers and ranchers, maintain the integrity of our food supply chain, and ensure every American continues to receive and have access to the food they need.

Secretary Sonny Perdue announced approval for Arizona and California’s request to provide online purchasing of food to SNAP households in Arizona and California. This approval will allow the states to expedite the implementation of online purchasing with currently authorized online retailers with a target start date later this month.

USDA today announced the launch of an online tool – the “Meals for Kids” Site Finder – to help families find meals for children while schools are closed during the coronavirus pandemic. This is the latest in a series of swift actions USDA has taken to keep children and low-income individuals fed during the ongoing health crisis. 

While President Donald J. Trump continues to take action during this COVID-19 National Emergency and enact measures to ensure Americans are safe, secure, and healthy, USDA continues to be open for business to provide services to the American people.

Secretary Sonny Perdue issued this statement following President Donald J. Trump’s Declaration of a National Emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“This is a time we all need to remain ever vigilant, pull together, put any kind of partisanship aside, and do what we need to do for the American people. At USDA, we are working to ensure children who are affected by school closures continue to get fed. We intend to use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve those affected by the outbreak,” said Secretary Perdue.

Secretary Sonny Perdue announced a proposed rule that will strengthen the way states serve SNAP recipients through Employment and Training at the Jane Addams Resource Corp. in Maryland where they teach low-income adults and workers the skills they need to earn a living wage, connect job seekers with good jobs in the manufacturing sector, and foster the life skills that create a path out of poverty.

In light of historic economic expansion - with a 3.6% unemployment rate and 6.4 million job openings across the nation - Secretary Sonny Perdue announced a proposed rule that will strengthen the way states serve SNAP recipients through Employment and Training.

Consistent with their emphasis on transparency and broad public participation, USDA, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is kicking off the fourth Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Meeting today in Houston, TX.

Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps today highlighted the agency’s many accomplishments over the past year to leverage our nation’s agricultural abundance to ensure every American has access to wholesome, nutritious food, even when they face challenging circumstances.