Special to the Daily As part of the pandemic services that are getting extensions and additions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced it would fund the universal free lunch program for another school year. And while the program is ultimately good — and benefits over 2,000 Eagle County students and families — it could reduce the funding that the school district receives as part of its participation in the National School Lunch Program. is a federally assisted meal program that was signed into law in 1946 by President Harry Truman. Eligibility — as well as the distinction between free and reduced — in this program is based off a number of factors including household size and income. Last year, the USDA made this program free as a result of the pandemic, meaning that all students were automatically eligible for free breakfast and lunch.