Whole Milk Returns to School Lunches After Trump Signs New Law
- Media Logic Radio
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Mariah Squire | Published on January 14, 2026
With a large bottle of milk beside him on the Resolute desk, President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a bill allowing schools to serve whole and 2% milk.
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 was introduced in January 2025, approved by the Senate in November, and pushed through by the House last month.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — both of whom last week released new Dietary Guidelines for Americans that elevated dairy — were in attendance at the Oval Office ceremony. House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., and Senator Roger Marshall, R-Kan., sponsors of the bill, were also there, as were small and large dairy farmers and their families.
“I want to thank all of our farmers here today,” Rollins said. “Most of them are fifth- and sixth-generation. They represent states from all across our country.”
The legislation revises requirements surrounding milk served by schools participating in USDA’s National School Lunch Program. It will permit those schools to offer students whole and reduced-fat milk, in addition to low-fat or fat-free options. It’s specified that fluid milk does not count toward the USDA regulation that the saturated fat content of a school meal must be less than 10% of the meal’s total calories.
Dairy and other farm groups quickly reacted with excitement and gratitude, plus a willingness to aid in the implementation of the legislation.
American Farm Bureau Federation
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is the nation’s largest farmer-run organization and serves farmers in all 50 states.
Zippy Duvall, AFBF president, offered comments of gratitude in a statement Wednesday, suggesting that the legislation could be a model for other similar solutions to benefit farmers and the public.
“Farmers applaud Rep. GT Thompson and Senator Roger Marshall for working to return whole milk to America’s schools, and to the president for signing the legislation today. The commonsense, bipartisan bill ensures children will have access to important vitamins, protein, and other nutrients while supporting dairy farmers who need access to expanded markets for their product.
“America’s farmers as a whole are struggling with high expenses that outpace income. Finding a solution that benefits everyone without creating extra costs for taxpayers is innovative and a sign of good government. Farm Bureau is committed to working with the administration to find more solutions to keep farmers in business and increase affordability for America’s families.”
Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative
Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, the second largest dairy cooperative in the country based on milk volume, provides dairy farmers throughout the Midwest with a powerful voice — the voice of milk — in Congress, with customers, and within their communities.
The Cooperative applauded the signing of the legislation in a statement Wednesday.
"This new law represents a major milestone for schools, our youth, and for dairy," Heidi Fischer, president of Edge board, said. "Students now have access to milk rich in essential nutrients needed for growth and development.”
“This is a significant achievement for Edge and the entire dairy industry,” Fischer said. “We have been advocating for this change since 2012, when federal nutrition rules took whole milk and 2% milk out of the school meals program.”
National Milk Producers Federation
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) develops and carries out policies that advance dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. NMPF’s member cooperatives produce more than two-thirds of U.S. milk, making NMPF dairy’s voice on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.
NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud conveyed excitement and a willingness to aid in implementing the legislation in a statement.
“Dairy farmers and their cooperatives couldn’t be more thrilled that whole and 2% milk is returning to school meals. Dairy is a nutrition powerhouse that should be used to its fullest potential — and that means making it available in the same varieties families consume at home. We are ready to help schools and USDA in any way we can as this important legislation is implemented, and we thank the Trump administration, our advocates on Capitol Hill, and everyone who has worked to make school meals better through increased access to dairy.”
Editor’s note: Some of the previous statements have been edited and/or condensed by Successful Farming for style and clarity.
ARTICLE: SUCCESSFUL FARMING, JANUARY 14, 2026
