Trump administration extends pandemic scheme to give school children free meals

Scheme giving children two meals a day will now run until June 2021

The Trump administration has extended a program giving free school lunches to youngsters until next summer (John Moore/Getty Images)

The Trump administration has extended a pandemic program giving free school lunches to children until next summer.

Before the coronavirus swept the US, families could only qualify for lunches if they met certain income thresholds.

Now the federal program that allows schools or summer programs to provide two free meals to students under 18 will run until 30 June 2021.

It had been due to run out at the end of the year before the extension was approved.

Waivers handed out by the Department of Agriculture allow schools to serve meals even when they are closed for remote learning, with parents able to collect the food without their child present.

“These waiver extensions are great news for America’s students and the school nutrition professionals working so hard to support them throughout this pandemic," said School Nutrition Association President Reggie Ross.

“Families struggling to make ends meet can be assured that their students will have access to healthy school meals, whether they are learning at home or in school.”