WASHINGTON, D.C. — Whole and reduced-fat milk could soon return to school cafeterias across the country after Congress sent bipartisan legislation to President Donald Trump’s desk, marking a sharp shift in federal school nutrition policy.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, following earlier approval by the U.S. Senate through unanimous consent. The measure allows schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to serve both flavored and unflavored whole and 2% milk, reversing restrictions put in place more than a decade ago.
Pennsylvania Sens. John Fetterman, a Democrat, and Dave McCormick, a Republican, hailed the bill’s passage as a win for students, families, and farmers.
“Whole milk is back in America’s schools,” the senators said in a joint statement, calling the bill a commonsense step that expands nutritious options for children while supporting Pennsylvania’s dairy industry. They said the legislation backs farmers and gives schools greater flexibility to serve products students are more likely to drink.
Whole milk was largely removed from school menus under prior federal guidelines aimed at reducing childhood obesity by limiting saturated fat. Supporters of the new law argue those rules had unintended consequences, including declining milk consumption among students and reduced intake of key nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D.
The legislation restores access to milk varieties that many children prefer, a change advocates say could improve overall participation in school meal programs and encourage healthier eating habits. Pennsylvania is one of the nation’s top dairy-producing states, and lawmakers have framed the bill as both a nutrition and agricultural policy victory.
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 now awaits President Trump’s signature, which supporters expect in the coming days. If signed, schools nationwide would be free to reintroduce whole and reduced-fat milk options as early as the next academic year, reshaping lunch trays from kindergarten through high school.
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