CBS Evening News closed out June, on Monday, by decrying federal budget cuts eliminating two Department of Agriculture food programs totally $1 billion. The report, delivered by correspondent Meg Oliver, dismissed the fact that they were both temporary COVID-era programs. Yet, she had the audacity to lament that “farmers and frontline workers [were left] to pick up the pieces while people go hungry.” But the report curiously failed to mention how many people the programs actually helped to feed.

“It`s been a month since Elon Musk left Washington, but the impact of his DOGE budget cutting is just beginning to be felt,” anchor John Dickerson glibly announced. “In tonight`s ‘Eye on America’ Meg Oliver looks at the real-life impact of eliminating two programs that helped feed the hungry.”

Oliver tagged along with Maile Auterson and “an employee” as they drove “hundreds of miles across Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas delivering fresh produce to food deserts” a few times a week. “Her nonprofit helps underserved schools, food pantries and senior centers such as this one in Ava, Missouri, where, for many, it`s the only place to get a hot meal,” she tugged on the heartstrings, omitting how many were actually helped.

Partway through the report, Oliver admitted that the programs were “implemented by the Biden administration in response to the pandemic” and carried a hefty price tag of $1 billion. In an interview with CBS, Auterson, who made money from the programs, insisted that the programs were still needed years after the pandemic was over:

OLIVER: Who are you leaving out there without food?

AUTERSON: Some of the most food-insecure people, some of the most vulnerable people, children, the elderly.

OLIVER: The USDA has said these were pandemic relief programs, and that`s over, so it`s time to move on.

AUTERSON: Yeah, we are not past the effects of the pandemic.

Noting that 8,000 farmers received money from the programs, Oliver spoke with one farmer who rented out more land thinking that the money would continue to flow:

OLIVER: When they introduced these programs, how did it impact your farm?

GRAZNAK: It was huge. I knew I could produce this and that they would be able and interested in buying it.

OLIVER: She rented an extra 16 acres to harvest more onions, garlic, and peppers to keep up with demand.

GRAZNAK: A quarter of my annual sales were going to those programs. And when they said that money is gone, I thought, ‘oh, my God.’ Well, now what do I do?

Of course, the tragedy here was the unchecked federal spending giving the farmers the false impression that the funds would be limitless (and go on indefinitely) and they could expand to extract more of the funds.

“Will you be able to still feed people this year?” Oliver teed up Auterson. “We are going to, but not nearly as many,” Auterson responded. That exchange left Oliver close out the report by lamenting: “Leaving farmers and frontline workers to pick up the pieces while people go hungry.”

It’s worth pointing out that while Auterson said they’re not going to be able to feed “nearly as many people” and Oliver proclaimed people will “go hungry,” they never actually gave a number (or even an approximation) for how many have been fed over the years nor how many would be forced to go without in the future. Both were very important bits of information to give the public the full picture.

The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read:

CBS Evening News
June 30, 2025
6:51:22 p.m. Eastern

JOHN DICKERSON: It`s been a month since Elon Musk left Washington, but the impact of his DOGE budget cutting is just beginning to be felt.

In tonight`s “Eye on America,” Meg Oliver looks at the real-life impact of eliminating two programs that helped feed the hungry.

[Cuts to video]

MEG OLIVER: Four days a week, Maile Auterson and an employee drive hundreds of miles across Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas delivering fresh produce to food deserts.

WOMAN: Those are gorgeous.

OLIVER: Her nonprofit helps underserved schools, food pantries and senior centers such as this one in Ava, Missouri, where, for many, it`s the only place to get a hot meal.

MAILE AUTERSON (Springfield Community Gardens): We are trying the best we can without the funding.

OLIVER: Auterson`s nonprofit relies on USDA grants to distribute produce to schools in low-income communities. But in March, the USDA abruptly canceled those two national food programs implemented by the Biden administration in response to the pandemic and totaling $1 billion. The agency says it`s a decision to “return to long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives.”

Who are you leaving out there without food?

AUTERSON: Some of the most food-insecure people, some of the most vulnerable people, children, the elderly.

OLIVER: The USDA has said these were pandemic relief programs, and that`s over, so it`s time to move on.

AUTERSON: Yeah, we are not past the effects of the pandemic.

OLIVER: The USDA grants helped Auterson buy food from small farms such as Liz Graznak`s.

LIZ GRAZNAK (Farmer): It was devastating. I don`t know those families, but I know those families are desperate for the food that they were getting.

OLIVER: The subsidies implemented in 2022 were set to be extended for another three years.

When they introduced these programs, how did it impact your farm?

GRAZNAK: It was huge. I knew I could produce this and that they would be able and interested in buying it.

OLIVER: She rented an extra 16 acres to harvest more onions, garlic, and peppers to keep up with demand.

GRAZNAK: A quarter of my annual sales were going to those programs. And when they said that money is gone, I thought, ‘oh, my God.’ Well, now what do I do?

OLIVER: Nationwide, more than 8,000 small farmers were supported by the programs. Advocates warn, the cuts could ripple through food deserts, rural communities, and urban areas, where access to healthy food is miles away.

With food insecurity in Missouri above the national average at 15 percent, local farmers here help bridge the gap.

Will you be able to still feed people this year?

AUTERSON: We are going to, but not nearly as many.

OLIVER: Leaving farmers and frontline workers to pick up the pieces while people go hungry.

For “Eye on America,” I`m Meg Oliver in Jamestown, Missouri.