Nebraska Governor Reverses Decision, Accepts Federal Funding for Summer EBT Program

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen reverses his decision and announces that the state will accept $18 million in federal funding to support the Summer EBT program, which provides pre-loaded EBT cards to low-income families with eligible children for purchasing groceries during the summer months. Pillen's change of heart came after meeting with high school students who shared their experiences with hunger. Pressure from lawmakers and bipartisan support for the program also influenced the decision. Nebraska was one of 15 states, all with Republican governors, that initially opted out of receiving the funding.