Reports have emerged that Native American tribes and low-income senior citizens across at least eight states are facing severe food shortages due to errors made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack acknowledged that the crisis stemmed from a flawed decision within his department to award a contract to a sole distributor responsible for supplying critical food aid programs.
This misstep has resulted in significant disruptions to food supplies for some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations, according to Politico.
Since April, tribes participating in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations have experienced delayed and canceled food deliveries following the start of the contract with distributor Paris Brothers Inc. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which supports low-income seniors and food organizations, has also been affected. This disruption has led to a shortage of essential food staples for numerous program partners, who now warn that the situation could worsen in the coming months.
“We’ve identified flaws in our system, and mistakes were made,” Vilsack told Politico. “This has caused a lot of stress and difficulty, and we are working hard to mitigate the impact.”
Vilsack revealed that the USDA plans to re-engage Americold, the previous distributor that handled delivery contracts for these food assistance programs, under a new six-month contract expected to begin in the coming weeks. Additionally, the USDA has involved FEMA to accelerate food deliveries and plans to enlist the Department of Defense for further assistance after FEMA’s temporary involvement.
These corrective measures may lead to significant costs for taxpayers.
Vilsack also admitted that senior USDA officials were not involved when initial concerns about the distributor were raised. It wasn’t until deliveries were disrupted, causing widespread food shortages, that higher-level staff intervened—a delay that Vilsack regrets.
“By that time, the situation had become serious, and once supply chains begin to unravel, it’s much harder to get them back on track,” Vilsack said.
According to three USDA sources cited by Politico, the most severe food shortages and delivery issues have been affecting tribes in North Dakota, South Dakota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington.
Essential items such as flour, meat, and canned goods have not been delivered, said Mary Greene-Trotter, director of the food distribution program for North Dakota’s Spirit Lake Tribe. She noted that the shortages began in July, stating, “It gradually became clear that a major problem was looming.”