In FERN’s latest story, published with Mother Jones, Bryce Covert explores why 15 states are refusing to participate in Summer EBT, a new federal program that gives poor families with children money for groceries during the summer when they can’t get meals at school.
As Covert writes: “Congress built on the Pandemic EBT model, which was passed as part of its Covid relief bills, to create the permanent Summer EBT program at the end of 2022.” Summer EBT starts this summer. “The U.S. Department of Agriculture had originally estimated that 29 million children would benefit, but that number has dropped to 21 million after 15 states declined to participate, meaning 8 million kids … will miss out.
“Why would states turn back what’s essentially free aid for children? Iowa’s Gov. [Kim] Reynolds said the program ‘does nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic.’ But a USDA Summer EBT pilot that ran from 2011 to 2013 led to children eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, suggesting the money allowed parents to buy healthier foods.
“Some Republican politicians, including Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, claim existing federal and state programs are adequate for keeping children fed in the summer. South Dakota Kristi Noem’s chief of communications Ian Fury said the state already has ‘robust existing food programs,’ and that federal funding comes ‘with strings attached, and more of it is often not a good thing.’ A spokesperson for Florida’s Department of Children and Families also said the state will rely on existing programs because federal programs ‘inherently always come with some federal strings attached.’”