By Thornical Press –

January 14, 2026

Surrounded by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, dairy farmers, and cabinet officials, President Donald J. Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act into law in the Oval Office on Wednesday. The legislation officially restores access to whole milk in the nation’s schools, reversing a decade-long restriction and signaling a significant shift in federal nutrition policy.

The signing ceremony featured U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and USDA National Nutrition Advisor Dr. Ben Carson. The move follows the recent release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, which reintroduced full-fat dairy as a recommended component of a healthy dietary pattern. Secretary Rollins praised the President’s leadership, noting that the bipartisan solution reinforces what many families have long believed: that nutrient-dense foods like whole milk are essential for growing children.

The administration framed the law as a dual victory for public health and the American agricultural economy. Flanked by dairy farmers from across the country, including Thomas French and Tara Vander Dussen, Rollins emphasized that the bill provides a critical lifeline to producers who sustain rural communities. The USDA highlighted that the move comes amid a broader effort to lower grocery costs, noting that dairy prices have seen a recent downward trend, with butter and cheese costs falling by 3.4% and 2% respectively over the past year.

Legislative support for the act spanned the political aisle, spearheaded by Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Peter Welch (D-VT), alongside Representatives Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Kim Schrier (D-WA). Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) was also cited as a key proponent of the measure. The broad consensus reflected a shared desire to provide more options for school meal programs while bolstering the domestic farm economy.

The USDA announced that implementation of the new law will begin immediately. Program guidance has already been issued to school nutrition officials, and a formal rulemaking process will follow to ensure that whole milk is available in cafeterias as quickly as possible. This will trigger a comprehensive rewrite of Child Nutrition Programs to ensure all school meals align with the updated 2025-2030 dietary standards.