Ron DeSantis says Biden is “completely upset” that claims settlements are threatening to siphon school lunches if they don’t implement LGBTQ policies
- Florida’s GOP governor criticized the president in a news conference Sunday
- He’s responding to a rule change by the Department of Agriculture in early May that could prevent federal food dollars from flowing into programs without LGBTQI guidelines
- These programs, like public schools, are now required to explicitly state that their policies protect against LGBTQI discrimination
- Republicans have claimed it means Biden will take food aid funds away from states that have imposed limits on transgender youth
- DeSantis’ criticism comes after South Dakota GOP Gov. Kristi Noem threatened to sue the Biden administration over the rule change
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday President Joe Biden was “out of control” after critics claimed the White House was trying to take US dollars for school lunches from districts that don’t have LGBTQI-friendly policies.
“We’re prepared for whatever Biden throws our way,” DeSantis said during a news conference on his newly approved state budget. “Yeah, part of that is inflation and gas.”
“Part of it is also deliberately destructive policies,” “like trying to deny school feeding programs to states that don’t promote transgender ideology in schools.”
Biden’s Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced earlier last month that it would take action against federal food dollars going to state and local governments that do not comply with the White House’s anti-LGBTQI discrimination policies.
In particular, facilities that receive money from the federal Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) — which includes public schools — need to update their policies to specifically prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
You also have a duty to investigate allegations of such discrimination.
It came after more than a dozen states passed laws targeting transgender youth, such as B. Requiring students to use bathrooms and participate in sports teams that match their birth-assigned gender.
“I mean, give me a break,” DeSantis raged. ‘Totally crazy to do that.’
Florida’s Republican governor vowed to “fight” President Joe Biden’s Department of Agriculture after it proposed the new rule mandating anti-discrimination policies for LGBTQI Americans
“We’re fighting for it, don’t worry. So we’re just prepared to defend the taxpayers and the hard working people of the state of Florida.’
In addition to transgender involvement laws, Florida also made headlines earlier this year with the controversial law, which critics have dubbed “Don’t Say Gay.”
It prohibits discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom from kindergarten through third grade, as well as restrictions on what is not “developmentally appropriate” for older students.
Biden previously exchanged verbal slaps with DeSantis over the state’s controversial Don’t Say Gay law, officially the Parents’ Rights in Education Act
FNS, the agency on the USDA rule change in May, is responsible for state-run food services such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the national school lunch and breakfast programs.
The agency said its proposal was “consistent with USDA efforts to promote food security,” according to a statement on the USDA website.
It cited statistics showing that almost a quarter of transgender people suffer from malnutrition, compared to just over eight percent of cisgender people.
“USDA strives to administer all of its programs justly and fairly, and to serve those in need with the highest dignity,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement.
“An important step in promoting these principles is the elimination of all forms of discrimination – including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”
He continued, “At the same time, we must recognize the vulnerability of the LGBTQI+ communities and provide them with a way to mourn any discrimination they face. We hope that by standing firm against these injustices, we will help bring about much-needed change.’
DeSantis’ outrage comes after his Republican counterpart, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, threatened last week to sue the Biden administration over the rule.
“President Biden is holding lunch money for poor Americans hostage to pursue his radical agenda,” Noem told the Argus leader on June 2.
“He insists we allow biological males to compete in girls’ sports or we lose funding for SNAP and school feeding programs.”
Noem vowed, “South Dakota will continue to defend basic fairness so our girls can compete and achieve success.”
Fight for Schools executive director Ian Prior also blasted the update in comments to Fox News.
“It is appalling and appalling that the federal government is stepping in and really tying school feeding and school feeding programs to this radical ideology,” he said.
