Washington, D.C. – On August 25, Senators Fetterman (D-PA) and Schatz (D-HI), and Representatives Takano (D-CA) and Craig (D-MN) urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reverse recent guidance that weakens nondiscrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) people in federal nutrition programs, warning it will leave vulnerable children and families at risk of going hungry.
The letter argues that USDA’s decision will create new barriers for LGBTQI+ students and families who already face higher rates of food insecurity and highlights survey data showing that LGBTQI+ youth are more likely to go hungry when they feel unsafe in school cafeterias. The lawmakers stress that removing protections will directly harm vulnerable students at a time when Republican legislation has already cut SNAP for 22.3 million families. The signers request that USDA reverse its guidance immediately—reverting to prior guidance from 2022 that provided clear protections for LGBTQI+ people—and provide answers on how it intends to prevent discrimination in school meal programs.
In the letter, the Members write: “USDA’s anti nondiscrimination policy manufactures new barriers, creating an explicitly hostile environment for hungry LGBTQI+ students, just because some people perceive them to be different. All students deserve access to food at schools. We should not be encouraging discrimination against any student, including LGBTQI+ students, who need food assistance.”
“The goal of NSLP and SBP is to provide free or reduced-price meals for our neediest students and to reduce or eliminate barriers that our students may face. USDA’s discriminatory policy manufactures new barriers, creating an explicitly hostile environment for hungry LGBTQI+ students, just because some people perceive them to be different. All students deserve access to food at schools. We should not be encouraging discrimination against any student, including LGBTQI+ students, who need food assistance.”
Senator Fetterman’s letter follows his advocacy in 2023, when he voted against an attempt by Congress to rescind the guidance.
The letter to Secretary Rollins calls on USDA to reverse its harmful decision and stresses that every child deserves access to food without fear of discrimination, and USDA must reinstate clear protections under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
Read the full text of the letter here.
