JAKARTA — The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) announced adjustments to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program in June 2026. These changes include the suspension of the program during school holidays and the cessation of funding for 39,000 students, measures intended to alleviate pressure on the government budget.

The Free Nutritious Meals program will be suspended during the upcoming school holidays, which are scheduled from June 22 to July 13. This suspension will apply to all future school holidays as well. The BGN aims to save more than 3 trillion rupiah ($168 million) through the upcoming holiday suspension.

The National Nutrition Agency will discontinue funding for meals for approximately 39,000 students enrolled in 76 schools. These 76 schools are located in areas that have been assessed as possessing the economic means to address nutritional requirements independently. The resources previously allocated to these schools will be redirected to support students in remote regions.

Agustina Arumsari, the deputy head of the National Nutrition Agency, stated that the changes were about "budget efficiency" and would also "ensure that every resource owned by the state truly provides optimal benefits for the groups in need." She added, "With the budget we have, we can cut back and make it more efficient," and said, "We think the figure is too big." The government also plans to propose a reduction in the budget for the Free Nutritious Meals program for 2027.

The MBG program recorded costs of 75 trillion rupiah ($4.24 billion) in the year concluding April 30. Dadan Hindayana, the former head of the BGN, was arrested and charged with causing state losses and self-enrichment in connection with his administration of the MBG program earlier this month. Two deputy heads of the BGN were also dismissed and arrested.

Why It Matters

The adjustments to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program reflect efforts by the National Nutrition Agency to manage government expenditures and enhance efficiency. The program, a campaign promise by President Prabowo Subianto during the 2024 presidential election, was established to provide free meals to 83 million children and pregnant women across Indonesia. Its stated goal is to combat stunting caused by poor nutrition.

The program has faced allegations of corruption and has been associated with food poisoning incidents. The recent arrests of former BGN officials, including its head Dadan Hindayana, coincide with the agency's announcement of funding cuts and suspensions. These changes aim to re-evaluate the program's targeting and address financial pressures, as noted by the BGN.