Boston, MA - Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale today criticised Governor Maura Healey for refusing to use state funds to backfill $12.2 million in federal funding that was cut—funding that had been designated to help schools purchase locally grown food for student meals. The decision impacts over 200 school systems across the Commonwealth, leaving local farmers, children, and school districts in the lurch, with no plan from Healey to replace the lost funding. 

“Governor Healey is turning her back on Massachusetts schoolchildren, local farmers, and our economy,” said MassGOP Chairman Amy Carnevale. “She can’t find $12.2 million to support healthy, locally sourced meals for kids in public schools, but she has no problem spending close to $1 billion a year on the migrant crisis. Where are her priorities?” 

The federal funding in question was used to ensure that schools could purchase fresh, locally sourced food. Without the $12.2 million, over 200 school districts will struggle to provide nutritious meals to students, and Massachusetts farmers will lose a vital revenue stream. 

Meanwhile, Governor Healey has managed to find $435 million in emergency funding to house migrants in Massachusetts, with the state’s annual spending on the migrant crisis now approaching $1 billion. Carnevale criticized Healey for her blatant mismanagement of taxpayer dollars and misplaced priorities. 

“She has the resources to spend over $1 billion a year to fund the migrant crisis - but can’t backfill $12 million to ensure our children have access to healthy, locally sourced meals?” Carnevale continued. 

Carnevale also criticized Healey for using her office to score political points, often taking aim at President Donald Trump and business leaders like Elon Musk, instead of focusing on solving the crisis she created in Massachusetts. 

“She’s busy criticizing President Trump and Elon Musk, but where is her plan to help local farms, children, and struggling school districts?” Carnevale said. “This administration can find hundreds of millions of dollars for migrants but can’t commit $12 million to keep kids fed with healthy, local food. It’s shameful.” 

The MassGOP is calling on Governor Healey to immediately allocate state funding to backstop the $12.2 million loss and ensure that Massachusetts students and local farmers do not bear the brunt of her administration’s financial mismanagement.