Trump signs Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act restoring school milk

Millions of children in public schools will again be offered whole and 2% milk after President Donald J. Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act into law in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 14, 2026. The statute, cited in federal guidance as the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, amends Section 9(a)(2)(A) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(a)(2)(A)) and revises USDA rules for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

Federal implementation guidance issued the same day, USDA/FNS memorandum SP 01-2026, directs regional and state directors of child nutrition programs and school food authorities to begin integrating the changes. The memo makes explicit that schools participating in the NSLP may again offer flavored and unflavored whole milk and 2% milk in addition to reduced-fat (2%), low-fat and fat-free options, lactose-free milk and nondairy beverages that meet USDA nutritional standards. The amendment applies only to the NSLP.

The law reverses elements of the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that had tightly limited school milk to fat-free or low-fat choices in alignment with prior Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It also changes how saturated fat is calculated for weekly meal requirements: fluid milk will be excluded from the weekly average saturated fat calculation for school lunches. USDA regulations will continue to require that the average saturated fat of offered meals be less than 10 percent of total calories, but that weekly average may now be calculated without fluid milk contributions. All other dietary specifications, including calories and sodium, remain part of the reimbursable meal calculation, and fluid milk contributions must be included in those totals. The USDA memo also notes that added sugars will be included in relevant considerations beginning July 1, 2027.

Administration officials framed the change as restoring choice and reflecting new dietary priorities. At the signing, President Trump said schools would be able to “expand their offerings to include nutritious whole milk” and described the measure as part of the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda and a follow-up to a new “Real Food pyramid.” Rep. Tom Tiffany, a cosponsor from Wisconsin, said, “Whole milk supports bone growth and development, and schools should offer nutritious options kids enjoy. With most kids not getting enough daily dairy intake, this is a win for our children, dairy farmers, and America’s Dairyland.” USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the change should take only “a few weeks” before whole and 2% milk are offered in schools. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the administration had “ended the war on saturated fat,” and White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers called the law “common sense,” saying it delivered choice to children, parents and dairy farmers.

The NSLP serves nearly 30 million students nationwide, including roughly 21 million who receive meals free or at reduced price, underscoring the policy’s wide reach. The law also makes it easier for parents to obtain milk substitutes, permitting requests without the prior requirement of a written statement from a doctor, and preserves nondairy, lactose-free options that meet nutritional equivalency standards.

School districts now face operational decisions about procurement, menu planning and communicating changes to families. USDA and state child nutrition directors will be central to implementation timelines and guidance to local food authorities. As districts evaluate supply chains and nutrition plans, officials say the first rollouts of whole and 2% milk at some schools could begin within weeks, while broader adoption will depend on local contracts and budgets.