Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday she intends to try again for a waiver to expand an alternative to the USDA’s summer food assistance program. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday she plans to reapply for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration to start an alternative to the federal summer meal assistance program.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services submitted a waiver request in August to implement a summer feeding project that differs from the USDA’s Summer EBT program. The $2.5 billion federal program provides families with incomes at or below 185% of the federal poverty line an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card with $40 per child each month when school is not in session. This money can be used on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases at participating stores.
Iowa has opted out of this program in previous years, drawing criticism from food aid advocates who say the state is leaving available funding on the table that could be used by families in need. Reynolds said she declined to participate in the program because of the lack of nutritional requirements for purchasing food through the program, in addition to the requirement for states to cover over half the administration costs.
Instead, Reynolds said the state would pursue a demonstration feeding project that would provide three monthly boxes with healthful foods at distribution sites during the summer months. The eligibility for this program would be expanded to families at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, serving 300,000 food-insecure children according to state estimates.
The USDA denied Iowa’s waiver request in October. While the demonstration project did not progress under the Biden administration, Reynolds said she plans to try again once Trump takes office in 2025.
She said she believes the incoming Republican administration will be more amenable to the program, because leaders will do more to work with states on “how we can look at existing programs that work (so) that we can feed more kids with healthier food.”
“It is silly to waste the dollars and stand up a whole new system, a whole new software system, when we have something that’s working,” Reynolds said. “So we should enhance and build from that and add to it. So I’m very optimistic.”
Reynolds spoke to reporters Tuesday at Terrace Hill after pardoning turkeys “Caitlin” and “Clark.”
Luke Elzinga, board chair for the Iowa Hunger Coalition, said he does not believe the USDA would be able to approve Iowa’s waiver even when the administration changes. The USDA made it clear in earlier correspondence with state officials that it did not have the authority to use funds designated for summer EBT for the state’s alternative feeding project, he said, a fact that would not change under new leadership.
“The USDA does not have the authority to use funds that are designated for summer EBT for this type of box program,” he said. “It’s in the name summer EBT — electronic benefits transfer — program. The program was created to provide nutrition benefits to families to purchase their own groceries.”
He said Iowa’s alternative “is something totally separate from summer EBT, it’s not a small tweak to the program. I think Iowa has made it clear that they would like this to just be a block grant, and that’s essentially what they’re asking for.”
However, Elzinga said the federal department indicated it could help provide funds for the state proposal as a summer food feeding demonstration project, which could occur under the Trump administration. It would continue to be a separate issue from whether the state participates in Summer EBT, he said.
“Let’s say that the Trump administration grants it under that demonstration project — USDA has already said Iowa can do both,” Elzinga said. “Iowa can participate in Summer EBT regardless of this demonstration project. So no matter what, our call on Governor Reynolds is to submit that Notice of Intent.”
Iowa has until Jan. 1 to notify the USDA if it plans to participate in Summer EBT in the upcoming year. While Reynolds said she plans to pursue the demonstration project, some advocates still called for the governor to apply for the Summer EBT program in its current form.
The Iowa Hunger Coalition held a news conference Monday calling for participation and pointing to ways that the state could address issues brought up by the governor — like Iowa’s eligibility for a $1.1 million grant that could reduce the administrative costs of implementing Summer EBT.
Speakers including John Boller, the executive director of the Coralville Community Food Pantry, also pushed back against arguments that providing a box of nutritious food would be better than allowing families to buy food at their own discretion through an EBT program.
“Parents should be trusted to make the best food choices for their children,” Boller said.
Outside of the summer feeding program, Reynolds said she has plans to work with other members of Trump’s administration on issues the state encountered “roadblocks” with when working with the Biden-Harris administration.
“We’ve already made a list,” Reynolds said. “I’ve had every one of my agencies put together a list of some of the roadblocks that we’ve encountered over the last couple of years, that we can take them to the administration through the various agencies, and say, ‘here’s some opportunities where we believe we can do it more efficiently, effectively.’ We can get more dollars on the ground in the hands of programs, thereby really serving the citizens in a better way.”
Cami Koons contributed to this report.