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Resource | Policy Interim Final Rule: NSLP and SBP - Elimination of the State Ameliorative Action Reporting Requirement for School Meals Eligibility Verification

Due to a technical problem with the docket that prevented comments from being accepted during part of the initial comment period, we are reopening the comment period for the interim final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on June 6, 2025. The rule rescinds an unnecessary reporting requirement for the school meals application verification process.

08/08/2025
Resource | Policy Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA); Interpretation of “Federal Public Benefit”

This notice sets forth the interpretation that the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses for the term “Federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. In doing so, this notice supersedes any prior interpretation in any notice or other document issued by any USDA agency. This notice also describes and preliminarily identifies the USDA programs that provide “Federal public benefits” within the scope of PRWORA.

07/10/2025
Resource | Policy Guidance on the Interpretation of Discrimination Based on “Sex” in USDA Child Nutrition Programs

USDA has rescinded the Biden Administration’s May 2022 Bostock policy update that sought to require federally-funded food and nutrition service programs to redefine discrimination by reason of “sex” under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 as not based on just male or female, but also “gender identity.” Today’s guidance eliminates the illegal threats issued under the Biden Administration that mandated compliance with ever-evolving concepts of gender ideology as a condition for participation in USDA school programs.

07/07/2025
Resource | Policy Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines (2025-2026)

This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals, free milk, and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits for the period from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. 

03/13/2025
Resource | Policy Commodity Supplemental Food Program - Income Guidelines for 2025

This memorandum transmits the 2025 income guidelines for state agencies and tribes in determining the eligibility of individuals applying to participate in CSFP.

03/07/2025
Resource | Policy The Emergency Food Assistance Program - Income Eligibility Guidelines for 2025

This TEFAP program guidance memorandum transmits the 2025 income guidelines for state agencies and tribes in determining the eligibility of individuals applying to participate in TEFAP.

03/07/2025
Resource | Policy FD-069: Eligibility of ITOs and other Tribal Entities to Participate in TEFAP (Revised)

This TEFAP program guidance memorandum provides information regarding the eligibility of ITOs and other Tribal entities to participate in TEFAP and to outline several best practices for working with ITOs and other Tribal entities in TEFAP.

01/14/2025
Resource | Policy FD-156: Written Beneficiary Notice Requirements for FDPIR ITOs and State Agencies

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide clarification on the written notice requirements that apply to indian tribal organizations and state agencies that administer FDPIR, per the USDA regulations on equal opportunity for religious organizations to participate in USDA assistance programs.

07/09/2024
Resource | Policy FD-155: Written Beneficiary Notice and Referral Requirements for CSFP and TEFAP State Agencies

The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify the written notice and referral requirements for organizations that receive USDA Foods or administrative funding as part of CSFP and TEFAP program guidance, per USDA regulations on equal opportunity for religious organizations to participate in USDA assistance programs.

07/01/2024
Resource | Policy Notice to Beneficiaries and Prospective Beneficiaries

USDA and eight other federal agencies recently published a final rule entitled, Partnerships With Faith-Based and Neighborhood Organizations at 89 FR 15671 (final rule). The final rule amended USDA regulations at 7 CFR part 16 related to equal opportunity for faith-based organizations that operate USDA programs and religious protections for USDA program beneficiaries.

07/01/2024
Page updated: October 14, 2021