Trump Admin to Require All SNAP Recipients to Reapply for Benefits/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Trump administration will mandate all SNAP recipients to reapply for food assistance, citing widespread fraud. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the move aims to ensure benefits go only to the truly vulnerable. Critics warn this could create new barriers for millions of low-income Americans already struggling with hunger.
Quick Look: Trump Admin’s New SNAP Reapplication Rule
- Announced: November 14, 2025
- Who: Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Trump Administration
- What: All SNAP (food stamp) recipients will be required to reapply for benefits
- Why: Part of an anti-fraud push; Rollins claims the move will ensure only the truly needy receive aid
- Cost of SNAP (2024): ~$100 billion | ~42 million Americans served
- Critics Say: The fraud rate is less than 1% — reapplication could cause mass disruption
- Tied to: “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — $186B cut to SNAP, new work rules, tighter restrictions
- Next Steps: USDA has not released a timeline or clear reapplication process
- Potential Impact: Could lead to delays, confusion, and increased food insecurity if poorly implemented
Trump Admin to Require All SNAP Recipients to Reapply for Benefits
Deep Look:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — November 14, 2025
The Trump administration is implementing a sweeping new requirement that will force all participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — commonly known as food stamps — to reapply for benefits, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Friday.
In an interview with Newsmax, Rollins said the policy is intended to root out what the administration calls “rampant fraud” in the $100 billion program, which serves nearly 42 million Americans.
“We’re going to have everyone reapply for their benefits,” Rollins said. “We want to make sure that everyone receiving taxpayer-funded support through SNAP truly needs it — that they are vulnerable and cannot survive without it.”
No timeline or procedural details for the reapplication process were provided. The USDA has not yet responded to inquiries seeking clarification on how this requirement differs from the current system, where states already mandate periodic recertification, often every six months.
Criticism & Legal Challenges
Anti-hunger advocates and policy experts are warning that the reapplication mandate could disrupt access to food for millions — especially elderly, disabled, or non-English speaking participants who may struggle to navigate new bureaucratic hurdles.
“This is not about fraud. It’s about shrinking the program and making it harder for people to eat,” said Maria Davila, policy director at Feeding America. “Fraud in SNAP is minimal — and USDA knows it.”
USDA’s own Food and Nutrition Service has found that fraud accounts for less than 1% of program costs. Nonetheless, the Trump administration continues to emphasize abuse, pointing to anecdotal cases and data from selective state audits.
Rollins claimed that USDA had identified 186,000 deceased individuals still receiving benefits based on data from 29 states — a figure that watchdog groups are urging the department to verify through independent audits.
A New Direction for SNAP
This announcement is the latest development in the administration’s effort to overhaul SNAP, part of what Rollins calls a broader mission to “modernize and clean up” the program. Earlier this year, USDA requested sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers, from state SNAP agencies — a move now being challenged in federal court over privacy and civil liberties concerns.
Rollins has teased a larger reform package in the coming weeks, possibly introducing more work requirements, time limits, and verification rules.
Trump: “SNAP Is Being Abused”
President Donald Trump has long been critical of the SNAP program, especially as budget negotiations intensify around government spending. Speaking on Fox News Monday, Trump claimed the program is “many times larger than it should be.”
“SNAP is for people who are truly in need,” Trump said. “Able-bodied adults should be working — not relying on handouts. That’s not what this country is about.”
He also expressed support for Rollins’ leadership, calling her “a warrior for the American taxpayer.”
Legislation Behind the Move
Earlier this year, Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a massive budget-cutting law that slashed $186 billion from SNAP over the next decade. The legislation added new work requirements, capped benefit periods for certain recipients, and gave USDA expanded oversight authority — including power to mandate full reapplication reviews.
The administration says these changes are necessary to control spending and restore accountability.
What This Means for SNAP Participants
Until USDA provides a full plan, it remains unclear whether all 42 million recipients will need to reapply at once, or if the change will be phased in.
If implemented poorly, experts warn the policy could lead to mass disenrollment, delays in benefits, and increased food insecurity — especially among vulnerable populations.
“Reapplying sounds simple, but in practice it creates delays, confusion, and ultimately, hunger,” said Ellen Lucas, a caseworker with New Jersey’s Department of Human Services.
Quick Facts:
- SNAP Participants (2025): ~42 million
- Average Monthly Benefit: ~$180 per person
- Estimated SNAP Fraud Rate: <1%
- Program Cost (FY 2024): $100 billion
- Reduction in SNAP via Legislation: $186 billion over 10 years
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