Iowa, Nebraska won't participate in U.S. food assistance program for kids this summer

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks during an interview with The Associated Press on Nov. 8, in Des Moines. Iowa will not participate this summer in a federal program that gives $40 per month to each child in a low-income family to help with food costs while school is out. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa will not participate this summer in a federal program that gives $40 per month to each child in a low-income family to help with food costs while school is out, state officials have announced.

The state has notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture that it will not participate in the 2024 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children — or Summer EBT — program, the state's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education said in a Friday news release.