Summer Meal Cuts Leave Thousands of Vulnerable Children at Risk of Hunger

Millions of children face potential hunger this summer as numerous states and cities decline federal summer food support, cut back their own programs, or hit capacity sooner than anticipated. Over 40 percent of summer meal recipients are young children ages 5 to 8.

Thirteen Republican-led states chose not to participate in the SUN Bucks program, which began in 2024 and offers $120 in grocery benefits to eligible children during summer breaks. States like Indiana and Tennessee, where 669,000 children received benefits last year, turned down significant federal funds, with Tennessee passing on $70 million.

Instead of the federal program, Tennessee’s Gov. Bill Lee proposed a $3 million state-funded program, serving just 4 percent of last year’s beneficiaries. In Montana, nearly $20 million was refused, citing program overlap.

“Summer is the hungriest time of year for families,” stated Rachel Sabella from No Kid Hungry New York, emphasizing SUN Bucks’ flexibility for families. Cuts and limits to summer meal programs are also seen in cities and school districts. In Oakland, California, home to 33,000 children dependent on free meals, the summer program cancellation shocked family advocate Clarissa Doutherd.

“The idea that in the city of Oakland, children could possibly go hungry, that our most vulnerable families would be at risk of hunger, is unimaginable,” said Doutherd, head of Parent Voices Oakland.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland will offer fewer meal locations than last year, affecting over 40 percent of students. Budget cuts canceled Santa Barbara’s summer food program, while Dayton, Ohio, programs reached capacity earlier than usual.

Across the U.S., 1 in 5 children face daily food insecurity. Elementary-age children, particularly vulnerable when schools are closed, often lack access to free meals. Ongoing hunger can lead to cognitive and health issues, with research linking food insecurity to lower test scores and social challenges.

Summer meal programs, though crucial, struggle to reach all in need. Research shows only 15 out of 100 eligible students access these programs, even before recent policy changes.

Doutherd criticized Oakland’s decision, noting Congress’s ongoing food benefit cuts. President Trump’s cancellation of local food programs has strained food banks, and proposed SNAP cuts could affect millions. His 2026 budget also reduces monthly fruit and vegetable benefits for low-income children from $26 to $10.

In New York, community organizations and schools are stepping up to address food gaps, said Sabella. However, as Congress debates further cuts, these efforts face significant challenges. Sabella warns that if federal proposals pass, hunger could increase nationwide.

Private donors recently revived Oakland’s summer food program. Yet, Doutherd argues that considering cuts was a mistake. “Families and children deserve better. Whatever savings our city might accomplish, … we will pay for in the future.”