The MEALS Act of 2025 addresses theft of summer EBT benefits—federal food assistance provided to eligible children during school breaks—by requiring states and tribal organizations to replace benefits stolen through fraud methods like card skimming and cloning. The bill directs the Department of Agriculture to issue guidance on security measures, establish replacement procedures for affected households, and conduct ongoing coordination with law enforcement, retailers, and payment processors to prevent and track benefit theft. States and tribes participating in the summer EBT program must submit plans within 60 days of the law's enactment detailing how they will handle stolen benefits claims, with the federal government covering replacement costs. The law also mandates that the Government Accountability Office report within two years on payment system security risks and recommendations for improvement, while the Agriculture Department must submit its own report to Congress comparing state and tribal reimbursement plans and documenting theft patterns.
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