Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, among other Florida Democrats, have criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the DeSantis administration opting to decline application into the federally run Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program.
The program was developed by the President Donald J. Trump administration to provide states with grocery benefits for low-income children during the COVID pandemic. President Joe Biden’s administration continued the program. So far, Florida is the only state to decline the extension.
Fried authored a letter to DeSantis criticizing his decision to decline re-upping into the program.
“Now we have learned that your administration has failed to apply for nearly $820 million in federal food assistance for two million Florida children through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program,” Fried’s letter said. “There is simply no reason why you should have ended – or be so far behind in securing – this critical federal assistance for our children that is being provided at no cost to the state.”
DeSantis’ press secretary, Christina Pushaw, criticized Fried and asked if her department had not been properly handling Florida’s Summer Food Service Program, another program designed to feed Florida’s school-aged children during the summer.
“Unless FDACS [the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services] failed in this mission, free meals were available for children and teens throughout the state through SFSP, branded as Summer BreakSpot, every day during summer vacation this year,” Pushaw said. “As far as we are aware, all students in need were able to access nutrition through SFSP during summer break. If this program was not managed appropriately under Commissioner Fried and children suffered as a result, Floridians need to know that.”
Pushaw also explained the decision to decline the P-EBT program in an email to WJCT.
“As we continue to support families and students with in-person education, Florida’s public schools have resumed normal operations, and schools are open in every county in our state,” Pushaw said. “Therefore, students receive high-quality nutrition directly from our schools.”
In August, Pushaw also noted to the Orlando Sentinel a similar stance, saying the program was designed to feed children while they were in remote learning.
“P-EBT was created by the federal government last year to ensure children were still being fed while they attended school remotely,” Pushaw said. “As you know, schools are not remote in Florida and were not remote last year either. Children are receiving nutrition directly from schools.”
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at the Florida Capital Star and the Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
