As millions of kids lose SNAP food benefits, free school meals are also at risk
Recent cuts to the SNAP food assistance program have created a ripple effect, causing many schools to lose their universal free meal programs. Experts warn that the full impact on child nutrition will become more apparent as the legislative changes take hold over the coming years.
Why it matters
The intersection of federal welfare policy and school nutrition programs directly affects the food security of millions of children in the United States.
When Republican lawmakers secured cuts to the United States' largest food assistance program last year, Paige Shoemaker DeMio wasn't worried about children going hungry just at home — but at school.
"Anytime we're hearing about cuts to SNAP or Medicaid, we're worried about what's going to be the domino effect of this," she says.
Shoemaker DeMio is a senior policy analyst at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank. She usually focuses on K-12 education, but in recent months, she has been following the changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP or food stamps.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in