President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act into law, restoring whole and reduced-fat milk options to school lunch programs nationwide for the first time in more than a decade. The bipartisan legislation gives schools greater flexibility to offer a wider range of fluid milk choices, including whole, 2%, 1%, skim, flavored, unflavored, and lactose-free milk.
Supporters of the bill say the change will improve student nutrition while better aligning school meals with what families consume at home. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ar.) called the signing “a milestone for the health and well-being of children nationwide,” noting the law helps fuel classroom success while supporting U.S. dairy producers.
Dairy organizations across the country also applauded the move. National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Gregg Doud said dairy farmers are “thrilled that whole and 2% milk is returning to school meals,” calling dairy a nutrition powerhouse that should be used to its fullest potential. The International Dairy Foods Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative also praised the legislation, citing benefits for students, parents, schools and dairy farmers alike.
Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative President Heidi Fischer said the law represents a significant achievement for the industry after years of advocacy, noting federal nutrition rules removed whole and 2% percent milk from school meals in 2012. The bill also exempts milk fat from saturated fat limits in school meals, making it easier for nutrition directors to include whole and reduced-fat milk options.
American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall also commented saying, “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.
The legislation passed the Senate in November 2025 following unanimous committee approval and was championed by bipartisan leaders in both chambers of Congress.
