USDA Proposal Would Remove 6.3 Million People From Federal Food Aid

The administration of President Donald Trump has introduced a proposal that would modify eligibility rules for the United States’ largest food assistance program. According to a document released by the Department of Agriculture on Tuesday, the changes are expected to remove approximately 6.3 million individuals from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP.

The proposed rule seeks to eliminate automatic categorical eligibility for SNAP. Currently, households that meet the requirements for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, are automatically qualified for SNAP benefits. The new guidelines would end this automatic linkage, requiring applicants to meet specific federal income thresholds directly. The USDA stated that the revisions aim to ensure benefits are targeted to needy households while simplifying program administration.

SNAP currently serves more than 36 million people across the country. Under the existing system, an individual receives an average of about $190 per month, while a typical household receives an average of $356 in monthly grocery benefits. To qualify under the standard rules, households must earn less than 130 percent of the federal poverty level. In contrast, TANF requirements vary by state and can accommodate households earning up to 200 percent of the poverty level.

The USDA estimates that the proposed changes would remove roughly 17 percent of current SNAP beneficiaries. Beyond the direct impact on food assistance, the rule would have other consequences. For instance, approximately 1.8 million children would lose access to free school lunch programs because those benefits are often tied to SNAP eligibility.

Democratic lawmakers have voiced strong opposition to the proposal. Representative Angie Craig from Minnesota criticized the rule in a statement on Monday, arguing that it would make it harder for families to meet basic needs. She described SNAP as a highly effective program that has been undermined by the current administration and the outgoing Republican majority in Congress.

Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey also condemned the move, labeling it despicable in a social media post. Booker noted that Americans are already struggling with high grocery prices and argued that the proposal deepens cuts to the safety net that prevents families from going hungry.

This proposal builds on a series of previous changes to the food aid program implemented by the Trump administration. Officials have frequently stated that many current recipients do not genuinely need the assistance. Under the Big Beautiful Bill passed in July 2025, an estimated 5.5 million people lost access to SNAP due to expanded work requirements and new ineligibility rules for certain immigrant categories.

In November 2025, the administration briefly withheld funding for SNAP to pressure Democrats into passing a federal budget. This standoff contributed to a government shutdown that lasted more than a month. President Trump had claimed that previous administrations had burdened the government with excessive spending and that benefits had been haphazardly handed out. The Supreme Court eventually ruled that the president could not legally withhold the funds, coinciding with Congress reaching a budget agreement.

Following that dispute, the administration continued to push for program changes. In December 2025, officials threatened to withhold funding from 21 states that refused to share beneficiary data with the federal government for fraud examination purposes. The new SNAP eligibility proposal is now open for public comment for a period of 30 days.