1 in 4 Texas Children Face Hunger; Abbott Vetoed $450M for Summer Food Aid

Gov. Greg Abbott has vetoed a measure that would have unlocked roughly $450 million in federal funds to help feed low-income children during the summer months. His decision stops Texas from joining Summer EBT, a USDA program that provides families with $120 per child over three months when school meals are unavailable.

Abbott, now serving his third term as governor, cited uncertainty in Congress as his reason for rejecting the funding, pointing to proposed federal budget cuts that could shift more costs onto states. Although Texas lawmakers had approved about $60 million in administrative costs for the next two years, Abbott argued the risk was too high.

“This decision comes at a time when nearly one in four children in Texas already faces food insecurity,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas. “Families across our state are struggling to put food on the table, and Summer EBT is a proven tool to help bridge that gap,” as reported by San Antonio Express-News.

Anti-hunger advocates and Democrats quickly condemned the veto, stressing that nearly 3.8 million Texas children would have qualified for the additional support. Abbott pointed to concerns about federal matching rates, referencing a Trump-backed budget reconciliation bill currently before Congress, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which would make deep cuts to similar food assistance programs.

That bill cleared the U.S. House on a party-line vote last month and is now under Senate review. However, the Senate parliamentarian recently ruled that the SNAP cost-sharing provision violates chamber rules.

Some lawmakers argue Summer EBT funding is separate from SNAP and should not be affected by potential cuts, calling the veto an unnecessary blow to Texas families. Abbott indicated the state might reconsider participation once federal funding is clearer.

“This decision has cost Texas families $450 million in benefits, a significant loss that will have real, negative impacts on the health and well-being of our children,” wrote Rep. Toni Rose, Rep. Armando Walle and Stacie Sanchez Hare, director of the nonprofit No Kid Hungry Texas.