TN organizations prepare for Gov. Lee to reject federal summer EBT support

Officials with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee are concerned after receiving a notice that Governor Bill Lee has not signed onto the federal summer program for EBT recipients for the second year. The summer program provides money for families to use on food during the summer months when schools are not in session to provide breakfast and lunches. Last year, Tennessee did not participate in the summer EBT program, and only Johnson and Carter counties were eligible to receive help from the state program. Only 18,000 children were served last year, compared to 2024, when more than 700,000 children who are food insecure received assistance. If the state doesn’t enroll in the program or find a way to replace it, Second Harvest, along with other food banks or organizations, will try to make up the difference. Although the early deadline was missed for the state to apply, Governor Lee can still apply by the second deadline coming up on February 15.