(WHTM) — Governor Shapiro has blasted the Trump Administration for cutting a program that lets food banks buy fresh produce from local farmers. US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins was asked about the Governor’s criticism, and she blasted back.

Secretary Rollins appeared at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to address Governor Shapiro threatening to sue if the USDA doesn’t reverse course and honor a 3-year, $13 million contract signed by the Biden Administration, rejected by President Trump.

“Listen, Governor Shapiro, who I actually respect, is playing some games here,” said Secretary Rollins.

“My administration is demanding that the federal government rescind their termination notice and honor their obligations under this agreement,” said Governor Shapiro. “Pennsylvania farmers and food banks are owed $13 million, and I won’t stand by and let our farmers get screwed in the process.”

“Governor Shapiro, or the state leaders here in Pennsylvania, know they don’t have their facts right or they’re playing games,” said Secretary Rollins. “They’re trying to make this a political issue. The money is there.”

While not speaking specifically about the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank contract cuts, Rollins said this about food insecurity funding.

“In Pennsylvania alone, we have tens of millions of dollars sitting in the Pennsylvania State accounts from the USDA to support food banks,” said Rollins. “So this just isn’t accurate.”

Joe Arthur, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s Executive Director, says he lost about $120,000 per month that was promised by the feds, which he would have used to buy produce from local farmers to feed the local hungry.

“Think eggs, milk, dairy, meats, really good stuff, so that’s about 12% of our purchase food budget,” said Arthur. “So, pretty impactful.”

While Shapiro and Rollins verbally spar over who owes what to whom, Arthur may have the most powerful argument of all.

“We’re in a hunger crisis right now,” said Arthur. “Our Foodbank, like most food banks, is actually serving more people right now in 2025 than we were in the height of the pandemic. It’s not really the time where we should be absorbing cuts to our resources.”

The Shapiro Administration reiterates that Rollins doesn’t deny cutting that program and it’s still unclear if Rollins’ USDA will honor the deal, however certainly doesn’t sound like it.