From Fortune:

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen refused $18 million in federal funding for the 2024 Summer EBT program to benefit low-income families and children eligible for free and reduced-price lunches. He faced fierce criticism and protests from advocacy groups but insisted his rejection, claiming the end of COVID-19 should mean the end of pandemic-era government relief programs.

The Summer EBT program would provide $40 per month on a pre-loaded EBT card for eligible children to buy groceries. It was part of federal assistance during the pandemic. Nebraska would’ve had to cover half of the administrative costs, $300,000, but the $18 million benefitted 175,000 children in need.

A petition from 230 communities in Nebraska, bearing over 6,100 signatures, called for the state to utilize the Summer EBT program. The petition emphasized the dire need for the program, especially with the multi-year inflation that has outpaced many household incomes.

Neighboring Iowa joined Nebraska in opting out of the program. Governor Kim Reynolds believes that the EBT card does nothing to promote nutrition in children at a time when childhood obesity is widespread.
As of Friday, 28 states and 6 other U.S. territories and Native American tribes had confirmed their participation.

Nebraska’s largest teachers union advocates for the program, emphasizing that children and families deserve to be provided for.

Critics claim that Pillen’s rejection of the federal funding is politically motivated and question his reasoning, as the Summer Food Service Program he advocates for is not easily accessible, especially for rural communities.



Read more: Nebraska governor again rejects giving kids from low-income families $40 per month for food: ‘I don’t believe in welfare’