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Parents, Advocates React to Governor Opting Out of Federal Summer Food Assistance Program
Governor Lee declined $84 million in federal funds, citing investment in existing state programs, while nearly 20% of Tennessee children face food insecurity, critics say.
- This year, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee declined to enroll the state in the federal Summer EBT program for summer 2026, forgoing $84 million in federal funds and $120 per eligible child.
- The Governor's Office argued the federal program is duplicative and said it will reallocate resources into Tennessee's existing summer food assistance programs, outlining investments in the FY26 budget proposal.
- Over 700,000 Tennessee children rely on Summer EBT when school meals are unavailable, but Jenny Wright, program manager at Oakdale School in Morgan County, said remote counties face greater access barriers.
- Local leaders and lawmakers publicly urged Lee to reverse his decision, with dozens of Tennessee county mayors and Brian Langley, Morgan County mayor, petitioning despite Lee depriving hungry children while almost 20% face food insecurity.
- This is the second consecutive year the state declined Summer EBT; Signe Anderson said, `Summertime is a challenging time for families who struggle to make ends meet and who have low income, which could be helpful to Tennessee families.
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14 Articles
14 Articles
Tennessee Lookout+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Gov. Bill Lee declines to secure millions in federal funds to feed Tennessee kids during summer
The federal government said Monday that Tennessee has not opted into a summer food program for low income kids that brought more than $84 million in funding to avert childhood hunger in previous years. (Photo: Getty Images)Despite the urging of county mayors, child advocates, clergy and educators, Gov. Bill Lee has declined to secure millions of dollars in federal funding to provide food to low-income kids by the government’s Jan. 1 deadline. Le…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left4Leaning Right4Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Left, 40% Right
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Left, 40% of the sources lean Right
40% Right
L 40%
C 20%
R 40%
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