Up to 18.3 Million Children Could Lose Access to Free School Meals Because of Republican Tax Cuts for the Wealthy
WASHINGTON – Today, the Urban Institute released a new report shedding light on how the Republicans’budget reconciliation proposal could cause up to 18.3 million children to lose access to free school mealseither through individual certification or through their school or state’s participation in universal school meal programs.
“Republicans’ proposal denies low-income students access to free school meals and the ability to reach their full potential. For some students, the food served at school may be the only nutritious meal they receive that day. When children are fed healthy, nutritious food, not only does attendance go up, but so do academic outcomes,” said Ranking Member Scott. “So, in order to provide tax cuts to billionaires and corporations in their ‘big, beautiful bill,’ children will go hungry, and their academic performance will suffer.”
Through a process known as direct certification, children are automatically eligible for free school meals if their household participates in SNAP. According to the Urban Institute’s estimate, under the Republicans’ proposal, as many as 1.4 million children could lose their SNAP benefits, which means they would also no longer be directly certified for free or reduced-price school meals.
Moreover, millions of students receive free meals because they live in in areas that use the simplified Community Eligibility Provision or in a state that provides free meals.
On May 14, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Ranking Member Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), House Committee on the Budget, sent a letterto Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson (LA-04), requesting specific data on the number of children and families who would lose access to free or reduced-price school meals, WIC services, and summer grocery benefits (Summer-EBT) be made publicly available prior to a House floor vote. Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to deliver a response.
To read Urban Institute’s report “Changes to SNAP Could Reduce Student Access to Free School Meals,” click here.
To learn more about how Republicans’ budget reconciliation will threaten access to child nutrition programs and increase food insecurity for the most vulnerable, click here.
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