The law often referred to in news coverage as Trump's new law about food stamps is the budget reconciliation bill signed in 2025, which was marketed as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The SNAP-related provisions in that law did not eliminate SNAP but made several significant changes aimed at program integrity and cost savings. Key changes included expanding work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents to apply to adults up to age 64 rather than 54, expanding work requirements to include some parents of older children, tightening rules around broad-based categorical eligibility that had allowed states to raise income limits, requiring more frequent and rigorous eligibility verification, and changing how states share administrative costs and benefits costs. The law also created new incentives for states to reduce payment errors and gave USDA authority to approve state waivers to restrict purchases of certain items like soda. Supporters said the changes would focus resources on truly needy households and reduce waste, while critics argued it would reduce coverage for working families and increase administrative burden on states. Implementation is phased in over 2025 to 2027.
1 votes
Marked as accepted