UPDATE: Struggling Americans relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, must reapply for benefits as the Trump administration intensifies its fight against fraud. This urgent directive was announced by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who revealed shocking statistics that show “186,000 deceased individuals” are still receiving payments. Furthermore, she claims that approximately 500,000 people are receiving double payments.
Speaking on Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight,” Rollins emphasized the administration’s commitment to “clamping down” on fraud, stating, “This is just data from those 29 mostly Republican states. Can you imagine when we get our hands on the blue state data what we’re going to find?”
The SNAP program currently supports about 42 million people—nearly 1 in 8 Americans—in lower-income households, providing an average of $190 monthly per person. However, this amount often falls short of covering the full cost of groceries. Rollins described the mass reapplication process as a vital strategy to “fundamentally rebuild this program” and ensure that only the truly vulnerable are receiving taxpayer-funded benefits.
“The president has made this a priority. We will fix this program,” she declared. Yet, specifics on how this reapplication process will unfold remain unclear. The U.S. Congressional Research Service described SNAP fraud as “rare” in a recent report, attributing most overpayments to unintentional errors rather than deliberate fraud.
In light of this transition, the USDA has instructed states to temporarily suspend the work, volunteer, or job training requirements for most adult SNAP recipients for the month of November. Typically, recipients are required to engage in at least 80 hours of such activities each month. Under normal conditions, failure to meet this requirement can lead to restrictions on benefits.
As the longest U.S. government shutdown has ended, state officials are racing to ensure full SNAP benefits reach millions of Americans who have faced limited or no assistance recently. A series of legal disputes and shifting policies have resulted in a complex distribution of November benefits. According to an Associated Press tally, while some states managed to issue full benefits, around two-thirds only dispensed partial benefits or none at all before the government re-opened.
The USDA’s new guidance, issued Thursday, mandates that state agencies must act immediately to guarantee that households receive their full November allotments without delay. This decision comes as millions are left wondering how the impending changes will affect their food security during a critical time.
With the stakes high and millions of lives impacted, the SNAP reapplication process is set to reshape the landscape of food assistance in the United States. Individuals and families who depend on this support are urged to stay informed about the upcoming changes and prepare for what lies ahead.
As this story develops, authorities call for swift action to address fraud while ensuring that the most vulnerable populations continue to receive assistance. Stay tuned for additional updates on this urgent matter.
