USDA Bans Fees for Low-Income School Lunches

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a new rule that will eliminate 'junk fees' for low-income families adding funds to their children's school lunch accounts, set to take effect in the 2027-2028 school year. This rule targets families qualifying for the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program, which typically have incomes under 185% of the federal poverty level, approximately $57,720 for a family of four. Currently, families incur significant processing fees, averaging 60 cents for every dollar spent, which can total over $100 million annually across the country. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized that while this is a significant step, the ultimate goal should be offering all children access to free healthy meals. The USDA encourages schools to adopt this change sooner than the official implementation date to alleviate financial burdens on affected families.