Gov. Stitt Opts Out Of Federal Summer Food Program For Second Year In A Row

For the second year in a row, Gov. Kevin Stitt has decided not to participate in a federal summer food program in 2025.

He says the state has plenty of resources on our own to make sure kids are fed, but food banks say the federal money could be crucial to helping kids.

Gov. Stitt says Oklahomans don't look to the federal government for answers, they look to their own communities, and he's confident the food programs we already have are more than up to the task.

Chris Bernard with Hunger Free Oklahoma says the program would have cost the state $5 million, but in return, it would have received $50 million in federal funding.

He says Oklahoma is not good at making sure kids on free and reduced lunches have food to eat during the summer, and this federal money would help with that need.

“You see families struggling, the participation in summer meal programs is up across the board, both in areas that are operating the program and not,” he said.

Oklahoma also opted out for this summer, but the Cherokee Nation and Chickasaw Nation accepted the federal money.

Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr says the Cherokee Nation invested nearly $1.4 million into the summer foods program this year and received nearly $7.9 million in federal funds for low-income families.

The governor says he doesn't want any child in Oklahoma to go hungry, and that's why he cut the grocery tax to keep more money in Oklahomans' pockets.

He says Oklahoma families now save around $800 a year on average on grocery bills.

But Bernard says leaving money on the table that could help feed kids, is not right.

"$50 million is not something to be like oh we don't need that, that is a major piece of a solution to a problem that causes us, challenges in education, health care, across the board we are having negative impacts because of food insecurity,” he said.