Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has once again refused to allow the state to participate in a USDA program designed to provide millions of dollars in food aid to families with children during the summer months.
The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) for Children program would have offered $29 million in assistance to around 240,000 Iowa children. Despite its potential to reduce child hunger, Reynolds rejected the federal funds, arguing that an EBT card does not promote nutrition effectively.
In place of the USDA program, Reynolds has introduced a state-funded competitive grant program aimed at expanding existing summer meal sites.
This initiative, however, allocated just $900,000—barely 3.1% of the federal aid she turned down. Critics, including the Iowa Hunger Coalition, argue that the grant program falls far short of addressing the state’s food insecurity crisis.
Reynolds has now submitted a waiver request to the USDA to create her own summer meal program. However, the USDA has expressed skepticism, noting that the Summer EBT program has a proven track record of success across dozens of states, helping 21 million children nationwide.
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The ongoing debate highlights the broader challenge of addressing food insecurity in Iowa, where hunger continues to rise.
