USDA Interim Final Rule Summary: Non-Congregate Summer Meals

In December 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 authorized a permanent option for non-congregate summer meals in rural areas without congregate service. As required by law, on December 29, 2023, USDA issued its Interim Final Rule (IFR): Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs. The IFR takes immediate effect to guide implementation in Summer 2024 and beyond. The IFR was open for public comment to inform a future final rule. However, USDA is not under a specific obligation or timeline to issue a final rule. The IFR can continue as the regulation governing non-congregate operations indefinitely.

This resource summarizes the updates made by the IFR to the regulations for non-congregate meal service, including the definition of "rural" and guidance on models like parent/guardian meal pick-up and multi-day meal distribution.