The President’s Budget Proposes Cuts to Programs That Serve Meals When School Is Out

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The President’s Budget Proposes Cuts to Programs That Serve Meals When School Is Out

By Erik Peterson, Afterschool Alliance, and Clarissa Hayes, FRAC

Published June 4, 2025

On May 30, the Trump administration released additional detail on its FY 2026 budget proposal, building off its “skinny budget” released on May 2. This budget proposes eliminating funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative, which is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to supporting local afterschool, before-school, and summer learning programs.

Since its inception in 1994, the initiative has supported local school- and community-based organizations in providing a safe and supervised environment for children after school. Currently, 21st CCLC funds more than 10,000 local afterschool and summer programs serving nearly 1.4 million children nationwide.

Eliminating this funding source will not only impact afterschool programming, but also negatively affect participation in the afterschool and summer nutrition programs. Afterschool and summer learning programs provide an important platform to serve afterschool suppers and snacks as well as summer meals while also keeping children safe and engaged when school is out.

At a time when available out-of-school time programs cannot meet the existing need and the afterschool and summer nutrition programs are underutilized, now is the time for policymakers to increase support and investments, not gut them. This is supported by polling: A public opinion survey released in February finds that 87 percent of voters, including large majorities of Republicans and Independents and those in rural communities, agree that afterschool programs are “an absolute necessity.” Four out of five Republicans favor greater investments in afterschool programs.

Anti-hunger and out-of-school time advocates should urge their Members of Congress to sustain this funding and let them know that cutting afterschool and summer programs will have a devastating impact on nutrition access when school is out.

Learn more from the Afterschool Alliance:

Afterschool Alliance statement: Trump Administration Proposes Zero Dollars for Afterschool and Summer Learning Next Year. Congress Must Prevent This Catastrophe.

Afterschool Alliance: Map showing impacts of 21st CCLC Funding Cuts

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