The Trump administration has confirmed that approximately 42 million Americans who the rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be required to reapply for their benefits. While this sweeping change is designed to crack down on fraud, it has drawn criticism, widespread concerns, and legal pushback.
A Nationwide Reapplication Order
In an interview with Newsmax, Brooke Rollins, the Agriculture Secretary, stated that the administration intends to have all current beneficiaries reapply for their benefits. The move is to ensure that everyone relying on the program is literally vulnerable and unable to survive without it.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that this is a broader effort to eliminate waste, fraud, and eligibility errors. “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,” said a USDA spokesperson in an interview with Newsweek.
Although SNAP recipients are required to recertify their information regularly, often every six months, this new requirement is not part of the ordinary state-level renewals. Rollins has not announced a timeline or detailed instructions yet, but she has indicated that the department expects all current beneficiaries to reapply when it begins.
Why the Administration Says the Overhaul Is Necessary
According to the White House and Rollins, the move has been initiated after alarming findings from the states that have complied with USDA data-sharing orders. Here are the findings:
According to Rollins:
- 186,000 deceased individuals were found in SNAP records.
- 500,000 people were receiving benefits in more than one state.
The agency has identified “thousands and thousands of illegal uses of the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card.”
Federal data shows a steep rise in stolen benefits, largely tied to card skimming, cloning, and other electronic theft:
- $102 million in stolen benefits in Q1 of FY2025.
- Up from $69.4 million in the previous quarter.
- Up from $31.9 million the year before.
According to USDA officials, more than 226,000 fraudulent claims and 691,000 fraudulent transactions have been confirmed.
A Program Under Heightened Scrutiny
For a long time, SNAP has been one of America’s largest and most essential safety-net programs, costing approximately $100 billion in fiscal year 2024. President Trump and other Republican leaders have argued that the number of SNAP beneficiaries has ballooned under the Biden administration. They cite record pandemic-era spending and claim that there was insufficient oversight.
“[SNAP] was meant for people that had real problems… It wasn’t meant for people who could do whatever they want, the people that say ‘well I don’t think I’ll work, I’ll just, you know, collect this money,’” said Trump.
Since January 2025, the administration has removed about 700,000 people and arrested 118 individuals connected to fraud investigations.
Legal Battles Already Underway
Following USDA’s push for deeper data access, lawsuits have been filed arguing that the department is jeopardizing sensitive personal information. Since early 2025, Rollins has directed states to share recipients’ data, such as Social Security numbers, addresses, and other identifying data. So far, only 29 states, mostly those allied to the Republican party, n have complied.
“President Trump is rightfully requiring the federal government to have access to all programs it funds, and SNAP is no exception,” said Rollins.
Anti-hunger organizations have warned that the Trump administration is exaggerating the level of fraud and risking cutting off assistance to families who rely on roughly $6 per day in benefits.
A “Fundamental Rebuild” Is Coming
Rollins has hinted that Americans should expect more reforms, saying that the reapplication directive is only the beginning of a broader overhaul. “Can you imagine when we get our hands on the blue state data what we’re going to find? It’s going to give us a platform and a trajectory to fundamentally rebuild this program,” Rollins said after reviewing data from states that have complied, mostly those affiliated with the Republican party.
SNAP recipients should be up-to-date with USDA announcements now that all 42 million beneficiaries are required to reapply for benefits.