USDA Proposal Could Eliminate Food Assistance for 6.3 Million Americans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a rule that could end food assistance for about 6.3 million Americans. The change would tighten who automatically qualifies for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps.
The USDA estimates that roughly 3.2 million households would lose benefits once the changes fully take effect in fiscal year 2029. That is about 17.6% of all SNAP participants.
What the Proposed Rule Would Change
The proposal, published Tuesday, Nov. 10, targets a policy known as "broad-based categorical eligibility." Right now, it allows states to automatically qualify households for SNAP if they receive certain services funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, such as child care or workforce training.
Under the new rule, only households that receive actual cash assistance through TANF would automatically qualify. Families that get noncash or minimal TANF services would instead have to meet SNAP's standard income and asset limits, WSFA reported.
The difference matters because the two programs use different income cutoffs. SNAP generally requires gross household income below 130% of the federal poverty level, while TANF-funded programs can cover households earning up to 200%, according to Al Jazeera.
Who Could Be Affected
Beyond the 6.3 million people who could lose SNAP, the USDA estimates that about 1.8 million children would lose eligibility for free school lunches, since that eligibility is tied to SNAP.
More than 36 million people currently receive SNAP benefits. The average benefit is about $190 per person, or $356 per household, each month.
The proposal follows earlier changes in President Donald Trump's tax and spending law, which expanded work requirements and narrowed who qualifies. Those new SNAP rules have already pushed millions of people out of the program, even as benefits went up for those who still qualify.
Why the Administration Supports It
The USDA estimates the changes would cut federal SNAP spending by about $44.6 billion from fiscal 2027 through 2031, according to Yahoo News.
The administration has pointed to concerns about waste and fraud. The proposed rule says the change would make eligibility more consistent across states and aims to "preserve benefits for the truly needy."
Trump has also said in a Truth Social post that the program hands out benefits to people who do not need them.
Critics Push Back
Democrats quickly criticized the plan. Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, called it "heartless and cruel" and said it "would make it harder to meet basic needs." She also warned it could affect access to other nutrition programs, including WIC.
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey called the proposal "despicable," saying Americans are already struggling with grocery prices.
Carol Gundlach, an analyst with the advocacy group Alabama Arise, said ending the policy would bring back asset tests, requiring caseworkers to verify what families own. She argued that more verification leads to more errors, which raises costs. She expects advocates to ask the USDA to withdraw the change and expects the rule to face legal challenges.
SNAP has been at the center of several legal fights this year, including a case in which a federal judge blocked funding conditions the administration tried to place on states.
How to Weigh In
The proposal is not final. The public has 30 days to submit comments, after which the USDA can revise, delay or finalize the rule.
Comments can be submitted online at regulations.gov using docket ID FNA-2026-0661. They can also be mailed to the SNAP Program Development Division in Beltsville, Maryland, or emailed to sm.fn.snappdbrules@usda.gov with the docket ID and "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Reforming Categorical Eligibility" in the subject line.
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