Got whole milk? Trump signs law bringing nutritious full-fat dairy back to public school cafeterias

Whole and 2% milk will be re-incorporated into public school lunches, benefiting both children’s development and rural farmers’ revenue, President Trump announced at the bill’s signing Wednesday in the Oval Office.

“I’m delighted to sign the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act into law, which is a very important thing for our farmers. And I think maybe more important is for our people to drink milk,” Trump said. “With this legislation, schools will finally be able to expand their offerings to include nutritious whole milk.” 

Currently, schools in the National School Lunch Program only offer low- and non-fat milk, following a directive from former First Lady Michelle Obama in 2010.  

The new legislation not only allows schools to offer “nutritious whole milk,” but also permits parents to request substitutes for children with dairy intolerance.   

“Previously, parents were required to submit a written statement from a doctor, but we’re eliminating that rather ridiculous policy, allowing parents to choose what is best for their child,” Trump said.  

Republican Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania told Trump he has been trying to pass the bill for 15 years. Trump was surprised, calling the legislation a “90-10,” “common sense” issue. 

Before discussing the bill, Trump announced the “killing in Iran is stopping,” according to “good authority.” 

Wednesday had previously been anticipated as “Execution Day” for the Iranian protestors, but Trump said he has been told “there is no plan for executions” and will continue to monitor the situation and update the American people. 

Trump also announced the Venezuela “leaker” – a Pentagon contractor who allegedly leaked classified information to a Washington Post reporter about U.S. operations in Venezuela – has been found and imprisoned and will “probably be in jail for a long time.” 

Health benefits of milk 

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said between 68-94% of school-aged children fail to meet dairy intake standards, based on federal recommendations. 

Whole and 2% milk provides 13 ingredients essential for children’s growth, development, immune function and overall intake of proper protein, calcium, vitamin D and healthy fats, he said. 

Dr. Ben Carson also emphasized the benefits drinking milk brings to brain development. 

Because schools have only been offering watery low-fat milk, children have drifted to drink sugary and caffeinated drinks that potentially “wreak havoc on metabolic health, which is driving the chronic disease epidemic in our country,” Kennedy said.

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said the whole milk bill demonstrates Trump’s support and investment in America’s rural farmers.

“Our dairy farmers in Pennsylvania and others from South Carolina are here today. As the lifeblood of the community, nobody works harder, and nobody does things that are better for nutrition and also for our kids,” bill co-sponsor Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, said at the signing.

A dairy farmer from Butler, Pennsylvania – where Trump survived an assassination attempt in 2024 – told the president the legislation is “perfect.”

“This is such a monumental day in agriculture, not just dairy farmers, but for all of agriculture, because this helps me as a producer. It helps the processors. It also helps these kids here. So it’s good all around,” he said. “And this is perfect legislation. A great day for America.”

Another dairy farmer brought her two young daughters to the Oval Office. The older daughter told Trump milk is “so amazing.”

“As a mom and a dairy farmer, this isn’t just a big win for the dairy farm families across the country, but as it’s been said, the millions of school-aged kids that depend on school lunches for their nutrition and to fuel their bodies,” the mom said.

Patrice, a mom and the central director for Independent Women’s Forum, brought her two sons to the bill’s signing. Her 7-year-old son told Trump he “knows where milk comes from.”

“So first, farmers milk it, and then next they put it into a cold tank, and then they take the germs out, they put it very hot, and then they put it back in the cold tank, and then they hold it to somewhere that is cold in a big refrigerator,” he told Trump who asked him to describe the process.

Trump had the children gather close to watch him sign the bill.

“I’m gonna start drinking a lot of milk” he told the kids.