"Southern States Reject Federal Funding for Summer Child Nutrition Programs"

14 states, all with Republican governors, have turned down federal funding for the Summer EBT program, citing reasons such as philosophical objections to welfare programs, technical challenges, and satisfaction with existing summer nutrition programs. This decision means that lower-income families in these states will miss out on federal aid designed to help feed children over the summer break, impacting millions of eligible kids. The rejection has drawn backlash, with some states reconsidering their decision after facing criticism.