Trump administration seeking to stop SNAP payments to Democrat-led states for not providing enrollee records
FILE-Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) signage at a grocery store in Dorchester, Massachusetts, US, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Mel Musto/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
During President Trump’s cabinet meeting Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the administration will stop Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) payments to Democratic-controlled states if they don’t provide information on those receiving the assistance.
The backstory:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the program and Rollins said they are taking the action because those states are refusing to provide information USDA FNS requested, such as the names and immigration status of the aid recipients.
RELATED: New SNAP requirements now in effect, USDA planning major overhaul of program
Last month, Rollins said the USDA FNS is working on a major overhaul to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. Around 42 million low-income Americans rely on SNAP.
Rollins said 29 states compiled with the request and that data showed 186,000 deceased men and women and children are receiving SNAP benefits and there are 356,000 duplicate enrollments.
Dig deeper:
The federal government funds SNAP and sends the money to the states, which administer applications and determine eligibility based on federal guidelines. Benefits are loaded on prepaid cards through the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system and beneficiaries use the cards at stores to pay for their groceries.
RELATED: SNAP: See the overpayment and underpayment rates for benefits in every state
By the numbers:
During the federal government shutdown, the SNAP program came under scrutiny when funding came close to running out. The USDA says in the accounting year that ended on Sept. 30, 2024, SNAP cost just over $100 billion, providing an average of $190.59 a month per person to over 42 million people. The average monthly benefit per household is $356.21, according to data from the USDA.
Last month, citing data from 29 states that complied with the USDA's request for information, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said 186,000 deceased men and women and children are receiving SNAP benefits and there are 356,000 duplicate enrollments.
The USDA has since pledged to root out fraud within the program and is requiring participants to reapply for benefits.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from the Associated Press, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and previous FOX Television Stations reporting. This story was reported from Orlando.