Trump administration proposes stricter rules for grocery assistance eligibility

The Trump administration has proposed a new rule that would tighten eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the federal grocery assistance program serving about one in ten Americans, according to the Capital Gazette.

Under the proposed rule, people receiving benefits through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program would no longer automatically qualify for SNAP, a change aimed at closing what the administration calls a loophole. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that this could cause 6.3 million people nationwide to lose SNAP eligibility by the 2029 fiscal year.

Currently, 41 states and the District of Columbia have some form of broad-based categorical eligibility for SNAP, a practice encouraged during the Obama administration to reduce paperwork and expand food aid access.

The USDA report notes that federal guidelines limit SNAP eligibility to those earning less than 130% of the poverty level, about $1,700 monthly for an individual or nearly $3,600 for a family of four.

The government is seeking public comment on the proposed rule until next month. If finalized, the new eligibility requirements would not take full effect for about two years, giving states and recipients time to adjust.