Wyoming Governor Implements Summer Food Program Through Executive Action
Governor Mark Gordon of Wyoming has taken decisive executive action to secure summer nutrition assistance for children across the state, following multiple legislative rejections of funding requests. The governor signed Executive Order 2026-02, which directs the Department of Family Services to develop and implement the Wyoming SUN Bucks program starting in June.
Legislative Resistance Overcome
This executive action comes after years of legislative resistance to the federal summer nutrition program. In 2024, Wyoming became one of only 15 states to opt out of the newly created federal program designed to supplement meals for needy children during summer months. The legislature rejected participation again in 2025 by killing House Bill 341, "Summer nutrition assistance for children." Most recently, in March 2026, lawmakers declined Governor Gordon's $1.8 million budget request to administer the program.
"While the Legislature was unwilling to make sure our young children get food throughout the summer months," Governor Gordon stated, "we have stepped up to ensure it happens." The governor cited the "vital" need for healthy meals year-round as justification for his executive action.
Program Details and Implementation
The SUN Bucks program will provide eligible families with $120 per child loaded onto a debit card to purchase groceries during the three summer months when school meals are unavailable. This federal-state partnership requires states to cover 50% of administrative costs, with the federal government funding the actual food benefits.
According to the executive order, the program will operate from June through August and will allow participants to purchase foods consistent with SNAP purchasing rules. The Department of Family Services has been directed to develop a plan that reaches all 23 Wyoming counties.
"We have been able to cobble together a one-time-only, bare bones effort, using current Wyoming Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data and Department of Education data, to ensure current eligible children will be fed," Governor Gordon explained in a press release. His staff did not provide specific cost estimates or funding sources by press time.
Political Divide Over Nutrition Assistance
The program has exposed significant political divisions within Wyoming. Critics, including Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder and members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, have characterized SUN Bucks as a welfare program in disguise.
"I will not let the Biden administration weaponize summer school lunch programs to justify a new welfare program," Degenfelder stated in early 2024. "Thanks, but no thanks. We will continue to combat childhood hunger the Wyoming way."
During legislative debates, Representative Scott Smith questioned the expanding role of government social safety nets. "I think there's an element where communities have already taken this up," Smith said, referring to existing school programs and food banks. "There's an element of pride that comes when a parent can go to work, take care of their child, feed their child. When they get a handout, we take that away from them."
Support and Advocacy Efforts
Supporters argue the program provides crucial support in a state where approximately one in six people experiences food insecurity. First Lady Jennie Gordon, who has made food security a priority through the Wyoming Hunger Initiative, championed the effort.
"Here's the reality: 35,000 of our kids who face food insecurity will do so in the summer," First Lady Gordon told legislators. "It's not their fault, their families are struggling and can't pay bills, and we can debate why that is or how we can get those families back on track, but in the meantime, those children should not be left hungry."
Advocates note that Wyoming's existing Summer Food Service Program, which operates meal sites across the state, has limitations. In 2025, there were 88 summer meal sites in 32 communities across 18 counties. However, due to distance, working parents' schedules, and other factors, not all children can access these sites.
National Context and Program Effectiveness
The SUN Bucks program, launched by the Biden administration in 2024, has grown to include 38 participating states. According to USDA evaluations of demonstration projects, summer electronic benefit transfers reduce child hunger and improve diet quality, decreasing the number of children with very low food security by approximately one-third.
The American Friends Service Committee, which advocates for nationwide SUN Bucks participation, notes that the program "is intended to supplement — not replace — the summer feeding program" and provides greater choice for families compared to fixed meal sites.
Governor Gordon's executive action represents a significant policy shift for Wyoming, aligning the state with the majority of states now participating in the federal summer nutrition program despite continued legislative opposition.
