Federal Policy Updates: Tying up what happened in 2025 with where things stand today
- Samantha Marshall
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
In 2025, we saw some proposed policy changes, actual policy changes, and some implementation changes for the CACFP. I wanted to take a moment and circle back to put it all in one place and update you about what did or did not take place. We'll also take a quick look at what is happening now at the federal level.
Longest Government Shutdown in History in 2025, will there be another?
Last fall, we experienced the longest government shutdown in history. Congress passed a continuing resolution to continue funding the government through January 30, 2026. We are quickly approaching that date. There are varying reports about how this is going to look in the coming weeks. As it relates to CACFP and other nutrition programs, in the bills passed in 2025, USDA was funded through September 30, 2026. Therefore, if there is a partial government shutdown, nutrition program funding will not be impacted.
USDA Reorganization Proposal
In the fall of 2025, USDA published a reorganization plan of the agency. This reorganization plan was not well-received by the American public, CACFP community, or Congress.
USDA put together a Summary and Analysis of Feedback during the unconventional public comment period. USDA has a website that focuses on the reorganization, but no update about if/how/when the agency is moving forward.
Reinterpretation of Public Benefit - PWROA and Head Start
In July of 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services published a notice with a major policy shift for Head Start and Early Head Start, categorizing these programs as a "Federal Public Benefit." The CACFP Roundtable joined the Head Start community and other early childhood advocates to request the department to withdraw the notice. What happened after?
There were a number of lawsuits, and a Federal court blocked this, and Head Start remains eligible to all children. The intention of Department of Health and Human Services to limit access to Head Start through the reinterpretation of PWORA will continue to be halted as they work through continued legal challenges.
H.R. 1 passed in July 2025, State Implementation Begins
This reconciliation bill creates major changes for SNAP and Medicaid across the nation. CACFP is not directly impacted in this bill, but access is inevitably going to be affected as SNAP and Medicaid eligibility decrease. Additionally, states are going to have to plan for the budget shortfall from the decrease in federal funds over the next 10 years, so we may see cuts to other programs that support care providers, children, and families.
For Resources as Advocates, Researchers, and States to Continue to Understand Impact on Communities
FRAC
As it relates to California
The Legislative Analyst Office: Major Impacts of H.R. 1
How Federal Funding Cuts Threaten the Health of Californians, California Budget and Policy Center
Make America Healthy Again Report and Strategy: Make our Children Healthy Again
The Make America Healthy Again commission, chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a strategy to get kids healthy (again). There are a number of items in this report, many of which are controversial. The community will continue to keep an eye on the report's strategies and how that plays out for CACFP policy and advocacy moving forward.
We'll continue to keep you posted as policy and conversations move forward in 2026. If you have thoughts, questions etc, we always love to hear from you, samantha@cacfproundtable.org.
January 28th member meeting - our first meeting of 2026, you don't want to miss it. All members are free, $25.00 if you want to see what it's all about before you join us as a member. If you're an adult day health provider and not a member? Join us for free! Email me for the discount code. samantha@cacfprountable.org. Â