In Maine, every child—regardless of background, income, or ZIP code—can sit down at school and eat a healthy meal without shame, stress, or stigma. That’s a powerful promise we’ve made to our students. But now, that promise is at risk.

Recent federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) mean fewer Maine families will qualify for the programs that underpin our school meal funding. These changes—passed without support from Maine’s congressional delegation—will hit vulnerable children and families first, especially asylum seekers and refugees who are now excluded from SNAP eligibility. They will also impact the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a critical tool that allows school districts to offer free meals with full federal reimbursement.

That loss of federal support leaves Maine holding the bag.

Our state took bold action to pass universal school meals after pandemic-era aid expired, and we applaud that leadership. But with federal reimbursements shrinking, we can’t afford to wait for a crisis. The Legislature has already committed to short-term funding, but we now need a long-term plan to ensure this program survives beyond the next two years.

We call on Governor Janet Mills, the Maine Department of Education, and the Maine Legislature to:

• Expand participation in the CEP by helping more districts qualify and apply
• Identify and fill funding gaps caused by SNAP cuts
• Advocate forcefully at the federal level to restore support for nutrition programs that affect our state

Maine’s children shouldn’t pay the price for federal politics. We’ve come too far to let free school meals become another broken promise. Keep food on the table—and fairness in our schools—by protecting this program for the future.

Photo: Russ Dillingham/Portland Press Herald