If you are one of the fortunate, you will be aware that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP benefits) provides monthly assistance to families with financial difficulties or limited resources, allowing them to make ends meet and feed their families nutritious foods.
Essentially, it is a card (called Electronic Benefits Transfer, or EBT) that is reloaded with a specific amount each month and can only be used to purchase food at authorised stores.
It is not for luxuries, but for necessities such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, and other essential items. Other products include medicines, animal food, and even cleaning supplies (among others).
In 2023, for example, more than 42 million people will receive these benefits every month. And it’s not just adults; nearly 40% of the beneficiaries are children.
Are SNAP benefits at risk? This could happen under Trump
Kailee Buller, Trump’s new chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), announced this week that the Trump administration intends to “fix” what she called “financial mismanagement” of the SNAP program during the Biden era. Buller claims that the previous team prioritised politics over common sense, jeopardising the program’s integrity.
SNAP is the largest food assistance program in the United States, accounting for nearly 68% of the Department of Agriculture’s nutrition assistance spending. Essentially, it is a monthly benefit for low-income families that allows them to purchase nutritious food.
Buller stated that the Trump administration will take action, but did not provide specific details on how they intend to “fix” the situation. He harshly criticised Tom Vilsack, the former USDA secretary, and Stacy Dean, the former deputy assistant secretary, claiming that they made mistakes by putting politics ahead of what the program truly needed.
Who are the most affected SNAP beneficiaries?
This is where things become serious. Nearly 40% of those receiving SNAP benefits are children. We’re talking about 11.6% of children under the age of five, and 28% of those aged five to seventeen.
If Trump’s proposed changes are implemented, millions of families could be affected, particularly in states where the program is most heavily used, such as Oregon, New Mexico, and Louisiana.
In addition, another topic is making the rounds. The USDA has been collaborating with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce the number of federal employees.
Musk tweeted that the USDA recently cancelled 18 contracts totalling $9 million. It is also rumoured that they were instructed to remove any mention of climate change from their website.
The truth is, there are still many unanswered questions. Buller mentioned “correcting mistakes” and preventing them from happening again, but he didn’t go into much detail about how they plan to accomplish this.
It is clear that any changes to SNAP could have a significant impact on families who rely on the program to put food on the table.
