Republicans suggest the kids work at McDonald’s instead of getting free lunch

A Republican Congress Member has suggested that children work at McDonald’s instead of relying on federally funded school lunch programs.

Why it matters

President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered a temporary break on almost all federal grants and loans. The order, which is set to take effect at 1 p.m. 17 Eastern time on Tuesday, can paralyze thousands of programs that spend public money, including school lunch programs and cancer research in children.

Matthew Vaeth, acting director of Office of Management and Budget, wrote in an internal memo that ordered the break on Monday that it was necessary because “the use of federal resources to promote Marxist justice, transgenderism and Green New Deal Social Engineering – Policies are a waste of taxpayers’ dollars that do not improve the daily lives of those we earn.

What to know

Representative Rich McCormick from Georgia suggested during an interview with CNNs Pamela Brown on Tuesday that free lunch programs were a way for schoolchildren to “fungus from government” after being asked if he would “support getting rid of school tunches for vulnerable children.”

“When you talk about school lunches, Hey, I worked through high school,” McCormick said. “I don’t know about you but I worked since I was before I was even 13 years old. I picked berries in the field before we had child labor that excluded it. I was a paperboy. And when I was in high school I worked throughout.

“I mean how many people started at fast food restaurants when they were kids?” he continued. “Versus just giving a blanket -rule that gives all kids lunch in high school who are able to go out and actually get a job and do something that causes them to have value, and think about their future instead To think about how they will mushroom out of government.

McCormick continued to suggest that children who received lunch without working during high school be kept “welfare” by the government.

“That’s what has been the inner urban problem for a very long time,” he added. “We have to get a top-down review so we can get people out of poverty. Because you know what? America’s very good at creating jobs and giving them worth. And we’ve been very much, traditional, good at it , but we ‘lose our way.

Brown then pointed out that many children receiving school tunch “are not even of working age,” asks McCormick to say “I get it” in response.

Newsweek reached out to comment on McCormick’s office via E email on Tuesday.

What people say

Democratic representative Jamie Raskin said on X (formerly Twitter): “President Trump’s lawless federal grant freezer attacks critical public services that we all depend on. Their assault on civil society is now threatening fire safety, school lunches, disaster relief, cancer research, law enforcement and more. We will fight to resolve this constitutional crisis.”

Art Candee, a Chicago-based artist and frequent Trump critic, said at X: “How accurately does Republican Rep. Rich McCormick seem that kindergartens will get a job to pay for their school lunches? Do child labor well again.”

Former professional tennis player Martina Navratilova said on x: “What a PR ** k. What about 10 -years ??? They have to work for their lunch !!!! ?????”

What happens next

Litigation has already been brought against Trump administration’s financing freezing. While the freezer is likely to affect free school lunches and other programs across the country, the president cannot fully cancel the funding approved by Congress.

Update 1/28/25, 17:00 One: This story was updated with more information and background.