UPDATE: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has just announced a sweeping review of all food assistance programs, with a focus on ensuring that only American citizens receive benefits. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins confirmed that, at the direction of President Trump, the agency will take measures to eliminate illegal immigrants from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
This urgent initiative comes as the USDA intensifies its enforcement against fraud and abuse within the system. “We will be reviewing ALL USDA PROGRAMS to ensure only legal citizens are receiving benefits,” Rollins stated on social media, underlining the administration’s commitment to protect taxpayer resources.
Earlier this year, the USDA reminded states that illegal immigrants and certain non-citizens are ineligible for SNAP benefits, a stance that has been met with resistance from 22 blue states that have yet to comply with data-sharing requirements. Rollins questioned, “WHAT are they hiding? WHO are they hiding?” as she pushed for greater accountability.
Amid these developments, the USDA is also implementing new rules that could significantly impact SNAP eligibility. A provision from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act took effect on Monday, raising the qualifying age for work-related activities from 54 to 64 years. This change is expected to lead to a reduction of approximately 2.4 million people on SNAP over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
The urgency of this review is underscored by alarming statistics revealed by the USDA, including that 186,000 deceased individuals may still be receiving benefits. “Can you imagine when we get our hands on the blue state data what we’re going to find?” Rollins remarked during a recent interview, indicating that the full scope of potential fraud may be much larger.
As part of these reforms, Rollins emphasized that all current SNAP recipients will need to reapply under the new guidelines. “Rates of fraud were only previously assumed, and President Trump is doing something about it,” a USDA representative stated, highlighting the administration’s focus on eliminating waste.
The ongoing legal battles between the Trump administration and several states over SNAP eligibility add another layer of complexity to this situation. The District of Columbia and 21 states are currently contesting new limits on immigrant eligibility, further complicating the USDA’s efforts to enforce compliance.
This review and the accompanying changes come at a time when the debate over SNAP has gained prominence, particularly during recent government shutdown discussions. Rollins believes this is an opportunity to “completely deconstruct the program” to ensure that vulnerable Americans who genuinely need assistance can receive it.
As the USDA takes these decisive steps, all eyes will be on the agency’s ability to implement these changes effectively and the potential impact on millions of Americans who rely on SNAP. Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
