Report: Trump policies are raising costs of kids' school meals

President Donald Trump's policies are contributing to higher school meal costs for families, according to a report released in July by the nonprofit think tank Groundwork Collaborative. 'No corner of the lunch box is insulated from the Trump administration's economic policies,' the organization said in a report on research into rising costs for families during the back-to-school season. The organization said the price of typical lunch staples increased nearly 11% in the past year. Groundwork's data found that packing school lunches will cost families more than $3,800 during the upcoming school year, an increase of $400 from 2025. 'In every aisle of the grocery store, parents are in store for higher prices: fresh blueberries have surged 47.7% over the past year, while deli staples have also become more expensive, with sliced ham and turkey both up roughly 12%,' the report says. 'Even pantry staples are costing more, with sandwich bread up 21.8%, apple juice up 20%, and animal crackers up 15.7%.' Both the Trump administration's tariffs on goods imported into the United States and a surge in fuel prices since the start of his war in Iran are to blame for the price jumps, Groundwork says. In July, after previous tariffs Trump imposed either were struck down as unconstitutional or expired, the administration announced new tariffs of 10%-12.5% on products from 59 countries and the European Union. A coalition of 25 U.S. states filed suit in August against the Trump administration over the new tariffs, demanding they be canceled and refunded. The new tariffs, according to the lawsuit, affect more than 99% of imports to the U.S. Groundwork's report notes that due to Trump's war in Iran, the price of oil has skyrocketed, driving up the price of diesel and the costs of petroleum-based plastic packaging. CNBC reported that the national average price for a gallon of diesel fuel reached a record $5.85 per gallon on Sept. 4, a 60% increase over the price a year ago. According to the nonprofit Engine Technology Forum, some 76% of commercial trucks in the U.S. run on diesel, adding more to the cost of shipping food to grocery stores and increasing consumer prices. The war in Iran is also constricting the supply of fertilizer, which is driving up food prices even further, according to the organization. The Groundwork Collaborative report notes that while families are having to pay higher prices, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by Trump in July 2025 is creating more obstacles to feeding children. 'By making it harder for low-income families to qualify for and retain food assistance and health care benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, the law reduces the number of children who automatically qualify for free meals,' the report says.