President Trump signs Whole Milk For Healthy Kids Act

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act Signed Into Law, Expanding School Nutrition Options

President Donald Trump has officially signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act into law, marking a significant shift in federal school nutrition policy and a major win for America’s dairy farmers and families. The legislation allows schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to once again offer whole milk, expanding choices that had been limited for more than a decade.

During the signing ceremony, President Trump emphasized the importance of the bill for both agriculture and public health. He said, “Today I’m delighted to sign the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act into law, which is a very important thing for our farmers and I think maybe more important for our people, the people that drink milk. This is the first bill signing of the new year and we’re sure that millions of school-aged children have access to high-quality milk as we make America healthy again.”

Under previous rules enacted during the Obama Administration, schools were restricted to offering only low-fat or non-fat milk options. Many parents, nutrition advocates, and dairy producers argued that those limits reduced milk consumption and ignored the nutritional value of whole milk. With this new law, schools can now broaden their offerings to include what the legislation defines as nutritious whole milk.

President Trump acknowledged a bipartisan group of supporters who helped move the bill forward, including Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and several U.S. senators and representatives. He also highlighted the presence of USDA National Nutrition Advisor Dr. Ben Carson, noting humorously, “That’s because he drinks a lot of milk.”

Representative G.T. Thompson underscored the long journey behind the legislation, stating, “I’ve been working on this bill for 15 years. Because of your support and your leadership, we were able to get this across the line.”

The impact of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act extends beyond school cafeterias. As Thompson noted, “The benefits today go to those precious children, our dairy farm families and, quite frankly, our rural communities.” With expanded milk options and renewed support for the dairy industry, the law represents a meaningful step in shaping healthier school meals and strengthening America’s agricultural backbone.

Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.