Quick summary:
• Twelve GOP-led states may reject $1.14 billion in federal funding from the Summer EBT program, risking hunger for nearly 10 million children.
• The Summer EBT program provides $120 per eligible child to buy food during summer months when school meal programs are unavailable.
• States like Tennessee, Texas, and Florida face criticism for refusing the funds despite widespread food insecurity and economic need.
• Tennessee alone would lose $77.2 million in benefits, especially impacting rural and hurricane-affected communities with limited food access.
• Summer EBT benefits stimulate local economies by supporting grocery stores and food retailers while helping families combat rising food costs.
• A Data for Progress poll shows broad bipartisan support for the program once voters understand its purpose.
• Anti-hunger advocates urge states to act before the Jan. 1 deadline, arguing no child should go hungry when solutions exist.
Nearly 10 million children across the United States could face hunger next summer if a dozen Republican-led states decline to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program. With a January 1 notice deadline looming, 12 states are set to walk away from a combined $1.14 billion in federal funding intended to ensure low-income families can feed their children during the summer months.
The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), a national nonprofit focused on alleviating hunger, warns that the consequences of rejecting the program would be devastating for families already struggling with food insecurity, rising costs, and geographic barriers.
“Summer can be the hungriest time for children,” said Crystal FitzSimons, FRAC’s interim president. “This funding is an opportunity for states to ensure children have access to the nutrition they need to grow, thrive, and return to school ready to learn. No child should have to go hungry during the summer months, especially when solutions like Summer EBT exist.”
The Summer EBT program, also referred to as SUN Bucks, provides families with $120 per eligible child to purchase food over the summer when school meal programs are unavailable. In 2023, the program successfully “bridged the gap” for more than 21 million children across 37 states, Washington, D.C., U.S. territories, and two Native American tribes, according to FRAC.
However, 12 states—all governed by Republican administrations—are signaling they may reject the funding for summer 2024. These states include Idaho, Alaska, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida.
The decision to opt out has drawn criticism from anti-hunger advocates, who point out that refusing Summer EBT funds disproportionately harms children in rural and low-income areas where food insecurity is most acute. In Tennessee, for example, FRAC estimates that hundreds of thousands of children would be eligible for the benefit, and families in the state would gain $77.2 million in assistance.
Tennessee’s governor has already signaled that the state will not renew its participation in the Summer EBT program, despite widespread need. FRAC and other advocacy groups are urging the state’s leaders to reconsider, citing logistical and economic barriers that make food access particularly difficult for Tennessee families.
Some of the state’s most vulnerable communities reside in its eastern region, where topography complicates travel to food banks or summer meal distribution centers. Additionally, families in parts of eastern Tennessee are still recovering from Hurricane Helen, which exacerbated poverty and hunger in the area earlier this year. Without the program, these families may face additional hardship.
FRAC’s FitzSimons emphasized that Summer EBT is a practical and proven solution to address these challenges. “Summer EBT should be a no-brainer for states, especially with the rising cost of food and families struggling to make ends meet. No child should spend the summer months hungry, and no parent should have to worry about how to feed their children. The stakes are too high for states to sit this one out.”
Beyond alleviating hunger, the Summer EBT program provides significant economic benefits to local communities. Families spend their benefits at grocery stores and local food retailers, stimulating local economies while ensuring children have access to nutritious food. By rejecting the program, states forgo these economic boosts in addition to leaving families without critical resources.
While the program’s name recognition remains limited, a Data for Progress poll conducted this past summer found that it enjoys broad bipartisan support once voters understand its purpose. This highlights a disconnect between state leaders’ decisions and public opinion.
The Summer EBT program is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s broader Summer Nutrition Programs, which include meal distribution sites. However, traditional summer programs only reach a fraction of the children who rely on free or reduced-price meals during the school year. SUN Bucks fills this gap, particularly in rural regions where meal distribution sites are inaccessible.
The decision to reject Summer EBT funding reflects a larger political tension between Republican-led states and federally funded programs. Some GOP officials frame the refusal as a matter of fiscal conservatism or state autonomy, though anti-hunger advocates argue that such decisions are ideological at the expense of children’s well-being.
For the 10 million children whose families depend on these resources, the stakes are high. FRAC and other advocacy organizations are sounding the alarm ahead of the January 1 deadline, urging governors to reconsider their decisions.
“View FRAC’s state fact sheets for a detailed breakdown of the potential impact of Summer EBT, including the number of children eligible and the economic benefits for each state,” the organization said. These fact sheets provide data on how opting in would help families and communities in states that currently refuse to act.
FitzSimons and other advocates argue that access to nutritious food during the summer is not just about preventing immediate hunger—it’s about ensuring long-term health, educational success, and stability for millions of children.
“This funding is an opportunity for states to ensure children have access to the nutrition they need to grow, thrive, and return to school ready to learn,” FitzSimons reiterated. “No child should have to go hungry during the summer months, especially when solutions like Summer EBT exist.”
View FRAC’s state fact sheets for a detailed breakdown of the potential impact of Summer EBT, including the number of children eligible and the economic benefits for each state.
The Food Research & Action Center improves the nutrition, health, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, and by advancing bold and equitable policy solutions. To learn more,