Republican Rep. Rich McCormick Tells High Schoolers In School Lunch Programs To Get Jobs

Republican Rep. Rich McCormick Tells High Schoolers In School Lunch Programs To Get Jobs

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) recently stirred controversy by suggesting that kids who benefit from school lunch programs are “sponge off the government.”

In an interview with CNN’s Pamela Brown, McCormick, who claims to have worked since he was 13, argued that high school students should work instead of relying on government-funded meals. “How many people got their start in fast food restaurants when they were kids?” he asked, questioning the fairness of providing free lunches to all students.

When asked about President Donald Trump’s freeze on federal grants, including those for school lunches, McCormick expressed support for the move, claiming it offers a chance to reassess government spending. He added, “I worked my way through high school… I was picking berries in the field before child labor laws.” Though he acknowledged not all children can work, he maintained the freeze is necessary for fiscal review.

Re: WH pausing federal grants and loans, I asked Rep. Rich McCormick if he’d support getting rid of school lunches for his constituents. He tells me high school kids who receive free/reduced lunches “are capable of going out and actually getting a job” instead of “sponging off… pic.twitter.com/2ckUZ8heYZ

— Pamela Brown (@PamelaBrownCNN) January 28, 2025

VIA: CNN