The Trump administration announced a new proposed rule that would change how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) interacts with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. By ending the automatic qualification pathway, the administration says the rule will close a loophole, cut redundant paperwork, and focus resources on families that are truly in need.
How the rule would work
Under current federal guidelines, households that receive TANF benefits can automatically qualify for SNAP, though they must still submit an application. The proposed rule would require states to evaluate SNAP eligibility on a case‑by‑case basis rather than relying on TANF enrollment alone. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that about 6.3 million people could lose SNAP eligibility by the 2029 fiscal year if the rule is adopted, on top of the 5.5 million who have already lost benefits over the past year.
Administration’s rationale
President Trump and his team argue that the change will reduce duplicative paperwork and prevent states from using TANF‑funded services—such as job‑related counseling or one‑time vehicle‑repair vouchers—as a shortcut to expand SNAP benefits beyond the intended target group. “We want to preserve SNAP for working poor families who truly need food assistance, not for those who can qualify through unrelated programs,” a senior administration spokesperson said.
Impact on families and children
SNAP eligibility is linked to other assistance programs, including free or reduced‑price school meals. The USDA notes that roughly 1.8 million children could lose school‑meal eligibility if their families lose SNAP, though 97 % of those children would still qualify for meals through an alternative application process. Critics warn that some families may miss out on lunches if they do not complete the additional paperwork.
Critics and concerns
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive policy institute, called the proposal “a double‑down on making it harder for families to feed their children.” Stacy Dean, a former USDA official now leading the Global Food Institute, said, “Simply put, we did not want to remove millions of people from the program, particularly working poor or children.” Georgetown law professor David Super described the rule as “eliminating the flexibility that Congress gave the states to serve working poor people.”
Supportive perspectives
Patricia Anderson, an economics professor at Dartmouth College, argued that the rule is “the most reasonable” of recent SNAP reforms because it targets higher‑income households that qualify through broad categorical eligibility. She noted that the SNAP enrollment base has already declined sharply, falling 13 % to 36 million participants as of July, partly due to expanded work requirements.
Public comment and timeline
The proposed rule was published on Tuesday and the USDA is accepting public comments until next month. If finalized, the rule would not take full effect for about two years, giving states time to adjust their eligibility processes.
Broader context
This proposal follows the Trump administration’s 2025 tax and policy law that increased work requirements for SNAP and shifted roughly three‑quarters of program costs to the states. Congressional Democrats have urged a delay in implementing the new cost‑sharing provisions, arguing that they could strain state budgets.
Overall, the administration frames the rule as a necessary step to safeguard federal resources, reduce fraud, and ensure that SNAP benefits are directed to families who are truly working and in need.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
