SNAP Benefits Update: USDA To 'Completely Deconstruct' Program
Source: Newsweek
Published Nov 19, 2025 at 07:35 AM EST updated Nov 19, 2025 at 08:41 AM EST
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins has said the department will "completely deconstruct" the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in an effort to remove fraud and corruption from the program.
The USDA told Newsweek: "Secretary Rollins wants to ensure the fraud, waste, and incessant abuse of SNAP ends. Rates of fraud were only previously assumed, and President Trump is doing something about it. Using standard recertification processes for households is a part of that work. As well as ongoing analysis of state data, further regulatory work, and improved collaboration with states."
Why It Matters
SNAP supports about 42 million low-income Americans nationwide by helping them cover the costs of groceries each month. The program came into the spotlight during the recent government shutdownthe longest in U.S. historywhen many did not receive their benefits as scheduled in November.
Rollins' comment also comes amid the government's announcement of two major changes to the program: Work requirement provisions brought in by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could see millions removed from the program, and recipients could be required to reapply for the benefits so that those no longer deemed eligible can be removed from the program.
Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/snap-benefits-update-usda-completely-deconstruct-program-11071472
Lovie777
(21,201 posts)and eventually kill it.
durablend
(8,796 posts)bucolic_frolic
(53,314 posts)Recertification already exists. The only thing new is expanding work requirements.
"Deemed" is alarming. Not just complying with the rules and meeting requirements. They still have to be "deemed" eligible.
What criteria is used for "Deeming"?? Appeals to SCOTUS?
bucolic_frolic
(53,314 posts)anyone with more than $10 to their name is ineligible because Trump's Oval Office lackeys say so. And no food for the homeless. No one should be surprised by that one.
durablend
(8,796 posts)"Have a job? Then you have money that you're clearly wasting"
"No job? You're lazy--GET A JOB"
"Any money in the bank? Clearly you're defrauding us"
Marthe48
(22,380 posts)EIDL and other Covid relief incentives? Billions of dollars, only about 25 million recovered. mtg, are you listening?
orangecrush
(27,630 posts)The Trump regime will be deconstructed before that happens.
BumRushDaShow
(163,541 posts)to "move fast and break things", so they won't care how they do it, but what they end up doing will mean misery for those who have to use the program.
Politicub
(12,324 posts)The biggest crooks of all are the oligarchs. Keeping food out of the mouths of children and the elderly makes my blood boil.
CountAllVotes
(22,033 posts)Just today I was having to ask for a letter to try to get more than $24 a month. I had to ask for a letter describing medical needs for more help w/the food bill.
Who is this
can afford the "Mediterranean Diet" 5X a day due to low blood sugar being I'm not eating enough?
Not me, that's for sure!
& recommend!
littlemissmartypants
(30,922 posts)No one should be surprised by this.
Project 2025 plans for SNAP haven't disappeared. ALL social programs are on the chopping block.
— (@2diamondeyes.bsky.social) 2025-11-20T01:40:29.535Z
www.project2025.observer/en?agencies=...
Project 2025 plans for SNAP haven't disappeared. ALL social programs are on the chopping block.
https://www.project2025.observer/en?agencies=Dept.+of+Agriculture
littlemissmartypants
(30,922 posts)nilram
(3,425 posts)progressoid
(52,371 posts)Maybe they should just get work harder!!
https://www.military.com/daily-news/headlines/2025/10/29/military-families-prepare-empty-fridges.html
angrychair
(11,517 posts)To give them the opportunity to gut SNAP
RedArkGuy
(851 posts). . . and the result will be even more burdensome processes to prove eligibility and much worse outcomes for families in poverty. Shame on the eminently underqualified Brooke Rollins for not standing up for America's neediest people (the overwhelming majority of whom work jobs).
flashman13
(1,787 posts)BumRushDaShow
(163,541 posts)From Government Executive magazine - DECONSTRUCTING THE DEEP STATE (published during 45's first term in 2017)
Bannon is no longer in the White House, but his remarks at a conservative political conference in February continue to reverberate through government.
(snip)
So you can tell whose nasty fingers are all over this.
Puppyjive
(895 posts)These agencies are constantly means testing anyone who gets government assistance. Where is the fraud? It's going to be like all that fraud going on at social security. It almost non existent.
KS Toronado
(22,160 posts)
CTyankee
(67,621 posts)Denying food to the hungry is about as unChristian thing you could do.
Surely, now all the devout Christians who voted for him will now renounce him and become Dems. Am I right?
Pinback
(13,451 posts)White nationalist self-proclaimed Christians have mastered a kind of mental high-wire act where they simultaneously praise Jesus Christ while regarding poverty and oppression as the fault (and just reward) of those who got the short end of the demographic stick.
rickyhall
(5,490 posts)I_UndergroundPanther
(13,310 posts)We figure out how to ban dark triads,sociopaths and narcissists from serving in any way in our government. Find a way to define then disqualify them from running for public office. And also get the heratige and turning point and other orgs., church assholes the billionaires and get Curtis yarvin and deport them all to cecot. Thats where they send innocent immigrants to be abused (we need to get justice for the immigrants sent there by ice)so its good enough for these traitor criminal assholes who do deserve it.
Hope22
(4,341 posts)People with hungry babies / children are going to be forced to steal it if the system is allowed to break down. I hope someone will step in to stop the dismantling of the system. This is insanity!!
Old Crank
(6,441 posts)From the no bid contracts to his rich buddies.
Reporters need to ask where his evidence is and why he isn't prosecuting people.
Irish_Dem
(78,035 posts)Squaredeal
(691 posts)They have to show work history, declare employment income and assets and show monthly bank statements, even if disabled, to remain eligible. Only when one is elderly does it become less burdensome. These payments are hardly enough to feed anyone for the entire month. They only supplement their meager monthly income from other sources to help them to survive.