USDA Food and Nutrition Service (Northeast Regional Office) – Boston, MA

USDA Food and Nutrition Service – Northeast Region

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Northeast Regional Office is headquartered in the Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. Federal Building at 10 Causeway Street in Boston, Massachusetts. This federal agency is responsible for the administration of the nation’s domestic nutrition assistance programs across seven states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The FNS works in partnership with state agencies to end hunger and obesity through the administration of critical federal programs, ensuring that low-income families and children have access to nutritious food.

Programs Administered

The Northeast Regional Office provides oversight, funding, and guidance for several major nutrition initiatives, though it does not distribute food directly to individuals at this location:

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program): Formerly known as food stamps, this program provides monthly benefits to eligible low-income individuals and families.
• WIC: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, supporting maternal and child health.
• Child Nutrition Programs: Overseeing the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Summer Food Service Program.
• Food Distribution: Managing the distribution of USDA Foods to schools, food banks, and disaster relief organizations.

Office Access

This location functions as a regional administrative headquarters. It is not a food pantry or an application center for benefits. Individuals seeking food assistance should contact their local state welfare office or a community food bank. Visitors to the regional office are typically state agency partners or contractors and must proceed through federal security screening at the building entrance. The office is conveniently located next to North Station, making it accessible via the Green and Orange subway lines.