By — Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press By — David A. Lieb, Associated Press David A. Lieb, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-administration-plans-to-make-it-harder-to-get-grocery-assistance Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Trump administration plans to make it harder to get grocery assistance Politics Nov 12, 2026 2:02 PM EST President Donald Trump's administration is planning to make it harder to get food aid through the federal government's big grocery assistance program that serves about 1 in 10 Americans. READ MORE: More than 1.2 million children have lost SNAP benefits since last July. Experts explain why The administration says the proposed rule would close a loophole by no longer allowing some people who receive benefits under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to automatically qualify for the separate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program too. Stand with free and independent journalism. Join Press Pass from PBS News About 6.3 million people could lose eligibility for SNAP by the 2029 fiscal year if the proposed change takes effect, according to the U.S.…
Trump administration plans to make it harder to get grocery assistance
In short
The USDA's proposed rule would terminate state practices that automatically grant food assistance to individuals receiving TANF-funded services like job counseling or informational brochures. This regulatory change aims to enforce standard federal income ceilings set at 130% of the poverty level. If finalized after the upcoming public comment period closes next month, the rule would take roughly two years to take full effect.
Key points
- The administration plans to eliminate the pathway linking TANF services to automatic food…: The administration plans to eliminate the pathway linking TANF services to automatic food assistance eligibility.
- Standard federal income limits would restrict grocery assistance strictly to families ear…: Standard federal income limits would restrict grocery assistance strictly to families earning under 130% of the poverty level.
- Affected families would have to submit separate applications to ensure their children con…: Affected families would have to submit separate applications to ensure their children continue receiving free or reduced-price school meals.