USDA Announces Waiver Amidst Supply Chain Disruption

September 21, 2021

On September 15, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a waiver on fiscal action requirements in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) where there is a supply chain disruption due to COVID–19.

Until June 30, 2022, providers will not be penalized for missing food components, missing production records or repeated violations involving milk type and vegetable subgroups. When determining whether this waiver is applicable during an administrative review, state agencies will consider all of the information school food authorities have available that illustrates that a COVID-19 supply chain disruption occurred. 

The authority of the USDA to grant nationwide child nutrition waivers, like this one, is set to expire on September 30, 2021. This authority provides the critical flexibility needed to respond to the ongoing pandemic and ensure that the federal child nutrition programs continue to operate and provide healthy snacks and meals to the students who need them. On September 20, AASA signed on to an allied coalition letter urging Congress to extend this authority to September 30, 2022.