In 2024, Wyoming became one of 15 states to opt out of a new federal program to supplement the meals of needy children during the summer months. In 2025, the Legislature opted out again when it killed a bill to sign up the state for the SUN Bucks program. And in March, lawmakers once again declined 鈥� this time quashing the governor鈥檚 $1.8 million budget request to administer it.
Citing a 鈥渧ital鈥� need for healthy meals all year round, Gov. Mark Gordon on Wednesday announced one-time funding secured to implement SUN Bucks in Wyoming this summer.
鈥淲hile the Legislature was unwilling to make sure our young children get food throughout the summer months,鈥� Gordon said, 鈥渨e have stepped up to ensure it happens.鈥�
The governor signed , which directs the Department of Family Services to develop and implement a Wyoming SUN Bucks program starting in June.
The federal grocery benefit loads a debit card with $120 per child to buy groceries during the three-month summer, the idea being to fill the gap when free and reduced-price lunches aren鈥檛 available because school isn鈥檛 in session.
Critics of SUN Bucks 鈥� who in Wyoming have included Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder and Wyoming Freedom Caucus lawmakers 鈥� have likened the federal assistance to a welfare program in disguise.
Supporters, meanwhile, say it can add one more layer of crucial support for hungry children in a state where
Summer supplements
The Biden administration launched the USDA-funded summer program in 2024. The program requires states to pay 50% of administrative costs. School-aged children whose families receive SNAP or other income-based benefits are automatically enrolled when a state participates.
Summer electronic benefit transfers reduce child hunger and improve diet quality, according to evaluations of a multi-year demonstration project cited by the agency. The project decreased the number of kids with very low food security by about one-third and supported healthier diets, USDA said.
Degenfelder, however, said she preferred to improve Wyoming鈥檚 existing program rather than sign on.
鈥淚 will not let the Biden administration weaponize summer school lunch programs to justify a new welfare program,鈥� 鈥淭hanks, but no thanks. We will continue to combat childhood hunger the Wyoming way.鈥�
Along with participating in the National School Lunch Program, a federally assisted program that provides low-cost or no-cost lunches to children living in eligible areas each school day, Wyoming also participates in the federally assisted Summer Food Service program.
The summer program feeds kids by opening meal sites 鈥� hosted by sponsors like schools or camps 鈥� where children can get a meal. Meal sites are located in areas where the local school or census block has a population with greater than 50% eligibility for free and reduced lunches.
In 2025, there were 88 Wyoming summer sites in 32 communities across 18 of the state鈥檚 23 counties under the program, according to the Wyoming Department of Education.
Due to distance, working parents鈥� schedules or other factors, not all children can reach those meal sites, food security advocates say.
鈥淭he reach of such programs is limited, and the program does not allow for choice in the same way as the SUN Bucks program, which is intended to supplement 鈥� not replace 鈥� the summer feeding program,鈥� according to the American Friends Service Committee, which advocates for nationwide SUN Bucks participation.
The number of states participating in SUN Bucks has grown to 38.
Lacking legislative support
After the Wyoming House killed in 2025, First Lady Jennie Gordon appealed to lawmakers to reconsider. Gordon has made food security a top priority in recent years with the Wyoming Hunger Initiative.
鈥淗ere鈥檚 the reality: 35,000 of our kids who face food insecurity will do so in the summer,鈥� First Lady Gordon told members of the Legislature鈥檚 Joint Education Committee. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not their fault, their families are struggling and can鈥檛 pay bills, and we can debate why that is or how we can get those families back on track, but in the meantime, those children should not be left (hungry).鈥�
When Gov. Gordon unveiled his original budget proposal in November, it included a request for $1.8 million of state funding for SUN Bucks. He reiterated the request in his February State of the State address, asking: 鈥淲hat kind of people are we if we won鈥檛 feed our kids?鈥�
Though it spurred rigorous debate, the request did not gain enough support to pass.
Representing common opposition stances, Rep. Scott Smith, R-Lingle, questioned the role of the government to take care of people from cradle to grave and wondered where social safety net expansion ends.
鈥淚 think there鈥檚 an element where communities have already taken this up,鈥� Smith said during House debate on the budget request in February, referring to school programs and food banks. He also warned about the consequences of entitlements growing too generous.
鈥淭here鈥檚 an element of pride that comes when a parent can go to work, take care of their child, feed their child,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen they get a handout, we take that away from them.鈥�
After the Legislature declined to fund his request, Gordon went to work on an alternative for implementing SUN Bucks. The executive order he signed Wednesday directs the Department of Family Services to develop a plan consistent with federal guidelines that will reach all 23 of Wyoming鈥檚 counties.
The program will allow participants to purchase foods based on SNAP purchasing rules, according to Gordon鈥檚 order. It will run from June through August.
鈥淲e have been able to cobble together a one-time-only, bare bones effort, using current Wyoming Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data and Department of Education data, to ensure current eligible children will be fed,鈥� Gordon said in a press release.
Gordon鈥檚 staff did not supply WyoFile with an estimated cost and source of the funds by press time.
First Lady Gordon championed the effort in a release. 鈥淓xpanding access to nutritious food for families in our rural communities makes our entire state stronger,鈥� she said.
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