
06/24/2025
Governor Abbot of Texas just Said “No” to feeding it’s children this summer
and it’s not just disappointing—it’s dangerous.
Governor Abbott vetoed $450 million in federal funding for the Summer EBT program—a program that would have helped feed nearly 3.8 million Texas children during the summer months when school meals aren’t available. The state’s cost? Just $60 million in administrative funds.
As a nurse, nutritionist, and public health educator, I cannot be silent.
This isn’t just about a budget line—it’s about children’s basic human right to food.
Here’s what this decision really means:
1 in 4 Texas kids already face food insecurity
Communities like Fifth Ward, already disproportionately impacted, will feel this most
Food banks and pantries will face even greater strain
Local economies lose out on grocery dollars that could’ve supported families and small businesses
And families—many working multiple jobs—will be left with fewer resources to nourish their children
Despite bipartisan legislative support, this veto reflects a growing disconnect between policymaking and the lived realities of everyday Texans.
Rejecting federal assistance that could alleviate suffering—especially when millions of families are struggling with inflation, heat, and housing instability—isn’t fiscal responsibility. It’s neglect.
We deserve better. Our children deserve better.
Let’s stand up and speak out—for dignity, for health, and for the future of every child in Texas.
Copper and Greens®
Thank you Sara Diggins, Austin American-Statesman for the article in the Houston Chronicle.