This week, the Trump Administration proposed changing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly “food stamps”) in a way that could take away basic food assistance from potentially millions of Texans.
3.4 million Texans — kids, the elderly, people with disabilities, veterans and workers who don’t earn enough to feed their families — turn to SNAP to help buy food every month. It is the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program.
Now the Trump Administration is putting SNAP at risk in a proposal that would eliminate states’ flexibility to adjust the rules based on the needs of their people. Instead, the proposal would cut off from basic food aid many near-poor working families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
This proposal would be devastating to Texas as adults are required to work to receive SNAP, but this rule would bar people from owning a reliable car or truck to get them to work. As few Texans have access to public transportation, millions could be pushed off of SNAP.
Children from families who would lose their SNAP benefits under the proposed rule would also lose access to free lunches and breakfasts at school.
With this proposal, the Administration is trying to bypass what Congress passed in the Farm Bill and instead take harsh actions to cut food assistance.
The Center for Public Policy Priorities strongly opposes this proposed rule. Click here to submit public comments in defense of families needing food assistance.