October 13–17 is National School Lunch Week, a celebration highlighting the history of the National School Lunch Program and showcasing the critical role school meals play in children’s health and learning. School meals are vital public health programs, associated with improvements in students’ diet and academic achievements, and serving as an important outlet for American food and agriculture.
This week, October 12–18, is Farm to CACFP (Child and Adult Food Program) Week, the national education campaign that aims to raise awareness of the benefits of connecting child and adult care sponsors and operators with local foods.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the end of remaining Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) time limit waivers and new guidance that will result in major changes nationwide. Starting this winter, millions of adults — including caregivers, veterans, older workers, and people experiencing homelessness — could lose food assistance under expanded time limits passed in the 2025 budget reconciliation law (H.R. 1).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)recently said it will stop producing its Household Food Security report after it releases the final one on Oct. 22. This will be a major setback to the fight to ensure that all have access to the food they need to thrive. For decades, this report has provided critical insight into who in America struggles to put on the table it. Without it, the millions of families struggling to put food on the table become invisible, and the problem becomes harder to fix.
The Bottom Line: The child nutrition programs — including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) — are expected to continue operating during a short-term shutdown. The Summer EBT and Summer Nutrition Programs are not impacted by this shutdown as funding for these programs has already been disbursed.