Florida House Democratic Legislators Join Nearly 200 Advocacy Groups Urging the State to Accept Federal Funding as 2025 Summer EBT Deadline Nears
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Governor Ron DeSantis’ decision to reject federal food aid to help Florida’s families keep food on their tables this summer has left countless families struggling to make ends meet. Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) officials have said in multiple media reports that the State of Florida does not intend to participate in the 2025 Summer EBT program due to “federal strings attached” to the federal funding.
While DCF officials have yet to explain what “federal strings attached” to the federal funding means, Florida would only be required to contribute approximately $13 million in state funds to cover half of the costs of administering the program, which represents a minute fraction — .076 percent — of the State’s projected $17 billion budget surplus that Governor DeSantis frequently highlights.
With the 2025 Summer EBT program deadline rapidly approaching on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, Florida House Democratic legislators sent a letter to Governor DeSantis, DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris, and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Commissioner Wilton Simpson earlier today asking them to reverse course and notify the United States Department of Agriculture of Florida’s intent to participate in the 2025 Summer EBT program.
“Florida has an opportunity to correct the egregious error made by DeSantis in 2024 when he decided to politicize food insecurity,” said Leader Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa). “Floridians have had to suffer through political stunt after political stunt by this governor while they’re trying to address their affordability crisis. Struggling families can’t eat political stunts and don’t deserve to suffer the consequences imposed by the governor’s limited view of freedom. In a state that purportedly prioritizes parental rights, Governor DeSantis must allow Floridians the freedom to access the federal benefits their tax dollars paid for.”
The letter sent to Governor DeSantis, Secretary Harris, and Commissioner Simpson is attached.
Summer EBT Caucus Letter Final
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