During the U.S. federal government shutdown, which lasted 43 days, one of the consequences was the halt of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), leaving nearly 42 million people without access to basic food. Now, after the reopening, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has stated the Trump administration’s intention to require all beneficiaries to reapply for their benefits in order to reduce fraud.
Despite these statements, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) considers intentional fraud in SNAP to be “rare,” noting that the vast majority of overpayments or improper payments result from administrative errors and have nothing to do with the applicant’s intent. Trump argues that his GOP administration team has worked through the DOGE to cut spending, and SNAP should be part of those cuts.
SNAP is in jeopardy
After 43 days of suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the federal government shutdown in the United States, threats against its operation have not ceased. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins stated to Newsmax the government’s intention to “make everyone reapply for their benefits, ensuring that all those receiving a taxpayer-funded benefit through food stamps, who are literally vulnerable and cannot survive without it”. She has not provided further information or details, leaving nearly 42 million Americans wondering what will happen with their monthly subsidy. According to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, fraud occurs when:
- The recipient intentionally lies to be eligible for this program.
- When retailers exchange benefits for cash.
- When criminals steal EBT cards for benefits.
The state administration of SNAP has already requested that beneficiaries update their information related to their work history, income, and other personal information every six months. For its part, the USDA has not endorsed Rollins’ words, but it has referenced “standard recertification processes for households” as part of its regulatory work to control fraud. For its part, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) considers intentional fraud in SNAP to be “rare,” noting that the vast majority of overpayments or improper payments result from administrative errors and have nothing to do with the applicant’s intent.
Rollin’s plans
Rollins’ intention is that within a week, states will have to provide sensitive information about SNAP beneficiaries, including Social Security numbers, which is being challenged in court. According to Rollins, “186,000 deceased men, women, and children are ‘receiving a check’ through SNAP,” citing data from 29 states that complied with the USDA’s information request. Since the creation of DOGE, federal officials and Republican governors claim to have been working to cut what they consider wasteful spending, which included a $186 billion reduction in SNAP spending following the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
In addition, it also introduced work requirements and restrictions on eligibility criteria. According to Trump’s statements on Fox News, “People keep talking about SNAP. But SNAP is supposed to be for when you’re down and out. The number is many times what it should be. It really puts the country in danger. The people who need it have to get it. I’m all for it,” Trump added. “But people who are able to do a job – they leave their job because they think they can pick this up, it’s easier. That is not the purpose”.