Texas Governor Greg Abbott has recently vetoed a bill that would grant federal funds for a summer lunch program aimed at low-income children. The decision sparked outrage among Texans, who criticized the Republican governor for cutting costs in such an important area.
According to The Texas Tribune, Greg Abbott vetoed a $60 million budget allocation for the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program. If approved, the measure would have been included in Senate Bill 1, which outlines the state’s 2026-27 budget, and would have allowed around 3.75 million children to receive $120 each to help pay for meals during the summer.
By approving the bill, the state would have gained access to at least $400 million in federal funds. Democratic politicians such as state Representative Armando Walle criticized Greg Abbott, calling the decision “baffling,” as it would have provided necessary nutrition for children in need.
Texas Residents Criticize Governor Abbott For Vetoing Funding to Children’s Lunch Program
The decision sparked outrage on Reddit’s r/Texas, as multiple users were irritated about the governor’s priorities. One user wrote: “So here’s what you get from GOP leadership in Texas – no lunches for poor kids. Because subsidies for billionaires and oil companies are much more important than feeding kids.” Another one said, sarcastically: “Thank you, Governor Abbot, for demonstrating what the party of family values really thinks about kids.”
Some folks had harsh words for Governor Abbott: “Hungry children are vulnerable children. MAGA loves to prey on those.” Others also considered this a cruel decision, especially in light of the governor’s anti-abortion policies. “They can only live in the womb, apparently,” someone claimed, seemingly alluding to these policies. A seemingly irritated user also claimed: “No surprise here. Abbott hates kids.”
It’s still not known if the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program will survive without this funding, so people who benefited from it in the past may have to wait and see if it has any future in Texas. Amidst disappointment with the governor, one user summarised how sad it was to see this happening in the United States: “Richest country in the world right here.”
