Millions of Americans who rely on food assistance could face tighter eligibility rules under a new proposal from the Trump administration. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has introduced proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, that could remove approximately 6.3 million people from the program.
The proposal would change how households qualify for SNAP through other government assistance programs. It aims to limit automatic eligibility for families receiving certain benefits funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
According to the USDA’s impact analysis, the proposed USDA SNAP benefits change could also affect children’s access to free school meals and other nutrition assistance. However, the changes would not take effect immediately. The department expects the proposal to reach its full impact in fiscal year 2029 if it becomes final.
The announcement has raised concerns among food assistance advocates, lawmakers and families who depend on federal nutrition programs to manage grocery expenses.
What Are the New USDA Proposed SNAP Eligibility Changes?
The USDA published a proposed rule on November 10, 2026, titled “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Reforming Categorical Eligibility.” The proposal would narrow the rules that allow some households to qualify for SNAP automatically because they receive assistance through other government programs.
Under current rules, states can use a policy known as broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE). This policy allows states to connect SNAP eligibility with participation in certain state assistance programs funded partly or fully through TANF.
Some of these programs provide non-cash benefits or services rather than direct cash assistance. Depending on state rules, receiving those benefits can help a household qualify for SNAP without going through every standard federal income and resource test.
The new proposal would restrict this pathway. It would generally limit TANF-based categorical eligibility to households receiving qualifying TANF assistance, rather than allowing non-cash or in-kind services funded through TANF to establish categorical eligibility.
The administration says the change would bring SNAP eligibility closer to federal statutory requirements and make the rules more consistent across states.
However, critics argue that the proposal could make it harder for working families, older Americans and people with disabilities to receive food assistance.
How Many People Could Lose SNAP Benefits?
The USDA estimates that approximately 6.3 million people in 3.2 million households could lose SNAP benefits under the proposed rule.
The impact analysis estimates that:
- Around 6.3 million individuals could lose SNAP eligibility.
- Approximately 3.2 million households could be affected.
- About 17.6% of current SNAP participants could lose benefits.
- The proposal could reduce federal SNAP benefit spending by approximately $44.65 billion over fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
- State SNAP benefit spending could also decline, although states would face additional administrative expenses.
These figures represent the USDA’s projections, not an immediate list of people who will lose benefits. Actual effects would depend on whether the proposal is finalized, how states implement the rules and whether affected households qualify through another eligibility pathway.
The USDA expects the proposal to reach its full effects in fiscal year 2029. That means eligible households would not automatically lose benefits simply because the proposed rule has been announced.
Why Does the Trump Administration Want to Change SNAP Eligibility?
The administration argues that the existing categorical eligibility system allows some households to receive SNAP without meeting the program’s standard federal income or resource requirements.
Under the proposed approach, households would generally need to qualify through more limited TANF assistance rules to receive categorical eligibility.
The USDA says the change would help ensure that SNAP benefits are directed toward households that meet the program’s federal eligibility standards. It also argues that the proposal would make eligibility rules more consistent across the country.
However, critics say the current policy gives states flexibility to account for local living costs and the financial circumstances of working families.
For example, a household may receive limited assistance through a state program but still struggle to pay for groceries, housing, transportation and child care. Under the existing system, that household may qualify for SNAP through categorical eligibility.
If the proposal becomes final, some households would have to meet regular federal income and resource tests instead.
How Could the Changes Affect Free School Meals and WIC?
The proposed USDA SNAP eligibility changes could reach beyond food stamp benefits because participation in SNAP can help families qualify for other nutrition programs.
One major concern involves school meals.
The USDA estimates that approximately 1.78 million children could lose categorical eligibility for free school meals under the proposal.
However, losing automatic eligibility does not mean every affected child would lose access to free meals.
The department estimates that around 97% of these children would still qualify for free or reduced-price school meals based on their household income. Families would generally need to complete a separate eligibility process.
The USDA’s estimates include:
- Approximately 1.66 million children would still receive free school meals.
- Around 93,000 children could move from free meals to reduced-price meals.
- Approximately 28,000 children could become responsible for paying the full price of school meals.
The proposal could also affect other nutrition assistance programs.
For the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the USDA estimates that 22,000 participants currently eligible through broad-based categorical eligibility could be affected. Around 16,500 could remain eligible after an individual income assessment, while approximately 5,500 could lose eligibility.
The department also estimates that about 42,000 children could potentially lose access to Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) beginning in summer 2029.
When Could the New SNAP Rules Take Effect?
The proposed changes are not scheduled to take effect immediately.
The USDA estimates that the rule would reach its full impact in fiscal year 2029 if finalized. Before that happens, the proposal must go through the federal rulemaking process.
The agency published the proposal in the Federal Register on November 10, 2026. Members of the public, organizations, state agencies and other interested parties can submit comments before the deadline.
The current deadline for written comments is December 10, 2026.
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