USDA criticizes Iowa’s planned summer feeding program, raising doubts over waiver approval

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has criticized Iowa’s proposal to launch its own summer feeding program with federal money, saying it shows the state believes it “knows better than its own families do about what their needs are” and raising questions about whether the state’s plan will be approved.

Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Thursday that Iowa will seek a waiver from the 2025 Summer EBT program. The EBT program would provide Iowa families with pre-loaded electronic benefits transfer cards that could be used to buy groceries. Instead, Iowa is seeking to use the same money it would get through the Summer EBT program — about $29 million — to set up a summer feeding program that would distribute boxes of food to families at existing sites at nonprofits, food banks, churches and other organizations around the state.

Iowa’s waiver application needs approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs the Summer EBT program. A USDA spokesperson issued a statement Thursday afternoon defending the benefits of the Summer EBT approach and criticizing Iowa’s proposal.

“USDA’s Summer EBT program is designed to tackle one objective: feeding kids at a time when we know hunger goes up,” the statement says. “It is backed by a decade of demonstration projects and rigorous evaluation showing that it works to reduce child hunger and support healthier diets. It also provides families with the freedom to make their own decisions on what food is best for their unique needs.”

More: Kim Reynolds seeks waiver from Summer EBT food program, says state can serve more kids

“Through this waiver request, the governor is asserting that the State knows better than its own families do about what their needs are,” the statement continues. “The evidence-based Summer EBT program is successfully being run in more than three dozen states, territories, and tribes helping 21 million children across the U.S. USDA stands ready to support additional states, including Iowa, in offering Summer EBT to even more kids.”

Department of Agriculture officials said they will review Iowa’s waiver request just like they do with other requests. They also said pilot projects must demonstrate a plan to research and measure their effectiveness before they will be approved.

Reynolds and state officials said Thursday they believe their proposal will provide a healthier alternative to Summer EBT, and said the state pilot would make about 300,000 children eligible, compared to 245,000 under Summer EBT.

But some anti-hunger advocates raised questions about whether picking up a box of food each month will be as accessible or offer as much choice as using an EBT card at a grocery store.

“One concern is that the current proposal will limit extensive choice for families,” said Michelle Book, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Iowa. “With the summer EBT card, it’s loaded onto their card. They go to the grocery store and they choose whatever in the grocery store would be of most benefit to their family.”

Luke Elzinga, chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition, said he’s worried “some folks could fall through the gaps” of the program, even despite the state’s plans for a food box delivery option.

“By providing that card that’s going straight to those 245,000 kids and their families, we know that it’s getting to them,” Elzinga said. “I’m not sure that we’ll see all 300,000 Iowans or children in Iowa that would be eligible actually be able to participate in the program.”

Iowa’s waiver application says the state will offer food box deliveries to families with transportation challenges, something it says is an advantage over Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks.

“Three monthly boxes with healthy, nutritious foods will be available at food distribution sites during the summer months,” Kelly Garcia, director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, wrote in a letter Thursday to U.S. Department of Agriculture officials. “Iowa recognizes that for some families, transportation may be a barrier to access. For that reason, food box delivery options will be available for families with transportation challenges, ensuring food is delivered right to their door. The SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) program does not offer this convenience, even though transportation is also necessary to utilize an EBT card at a grocery store.”

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.