In recent days, we’ve been navigating a flurry of developments regarding the Summer EBT program and its future in our state. Here’s a quick overview of where things stand:
A Major Win and a Setback
In December 2022, Congress made the Summer EBT program a permanent fixture, providing $40 in food benefits per child each month during the summer when school meals are unavailable. This was a significant victory for our state, which has historically struggled with low participation rates, partly due to its vast rural areas. Hunger Free Oklahoma (HFO) long advocated for this program on a national level, so the decision was a major step forward.
However, on January 1, 2024, our state chose to opt out of participating in the Summer EBT program for the summer of 2024. Despite this, the Chickasaw and Cherokee Nations decided to opt in, and Hunger Free Oklahoma worked closely with them to extend their services to cover the eastern part of our state. As a result, by the end of the summer, approximately 91,000 students will benefit from nearly $11 million in food resources, boosting both families and local economies.
A New Challenge for 2025
Looking ahead to 2025, HFO has been engaged in discussions about whether Oklahoma will opt in to the Summer EBT program. Recently, we started receiving indications that we might not participate. To address this, we launched a public campaign, including media outreach, social media advocacy, and a public letter supported by the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. This letter garnered impressive support, with more than 800 signatures.
Despite these efforts, just before the August 15 deadline, Governor Stitt’s office released a statement declaring that Oklahoma would not participate in the program. The statement criticized the federal program and highlighted state-level initiatives, such as the grocery tax elimination bill, as alternatives for supporting families. It emphasized reliance on existing community partners and programs rather than the federal Summer EBT program.
Our Response and Moving Forward
In response, HFO issued a statement underscoring the benefits of the Summer EBT program for our state’s children, families, and economy. HFO’s President/CEO Chris Bernard expressed concern that rejecting this program means missing out on millions of dollars in federal funding and prioritizing political ideology over the needs of Oklahoma’s 400,000 food-insecure children.
The situation has generated considerable media attention, and while we are disappointed by the current outcome, we remain committed to advocating for the Summer EBT program. HFO’s focus will now be on working towards full adoption in 2026 and exploring any potential options for implementation in 2025. We will also continue to support the Tribes in their ongoing Summer EBT efforts.