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Cornell Cooperative Extension tells Sullivan County federal pause on grants has frozen $2.3M farm funding and threatens food programs
Summary
Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) told the Sullivan County Legislature that an Office of Management and Budget pause on federal disbursements left a $2.3 million USDA beginner-farmer grant frozen, has produced arrears to the extension, forced staff cuts and paused a mentorship program, and is straining local food-distribution efforts.
Colleen, a representative of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Sullivan, told the Sullivan County Legislature that a federal pause on agency obligations has frozen a $2,300,000 USDA grant and disrupted local food, farm and prevention programs.
The issue stems from an Office of Management and Budget memo directing federal agencies to pause obligations and disbursements; the memo took effect Jan. 28, CCE said. CCE reported two USDA grant accounts were later unfrozen but said the largest grant, $2.3 million over five years for a beginner-farmer program covering Sullivan County and the region, remains frozen. Colleen said the organization is owed more than $125,000 by USDA as of Feb. 28 and has paid about $60,000 from its operating funds to cover 2024 obligations while waiting for federal reimbursements.
CCE told legislators the pause forced it to…
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