Oop! A federal judge has blocked the Donald Trump administration from banning SNAP recipients form using benefits to purchase soda, candy, and other junk food in 5 states.
USDA Approves 23 States To Ban SNAP Recipients From Using Benefits To Purchase Candy, Soda, Junk Food
We previously reported back in August 2025 about the Trump administration allowing 6 new states to join 6 others in banning “unhealthy foods” from the $100 billion federal program.
At the time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, joined by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., signed 6 new food choice state waivers to further advance President Trump’s efforts to “Make America Healthy Again.”
The USDA wrote, “The signed waivers will amend the statutory definition of food for purchase for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) in West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, each commencing in 2026.”
Before this, Secretary Rollins previously signed waivers for Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, Idaho, and Utah. As of June 2026, the USDA has permitted a total of 23 states to implement the restrictions. The additional 11 states include: Hawaii, Missouri, Nevada, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, Wyoming, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia.
Federal Judge Sides With 5 States Suing USDA Over Trump Administration Ban On Using SNAP Benefits For Junk Food
However, in March 2026, 5 states — Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia — sued the USDA. The states alleged the move to ban would “destabilize food access” for millions of people on food stamps. They also argued that the ban complicates things for people with chronic illness to access food or drinks needed to maintain their health; including products to manage blood sugar, etc.
Ultimately, on Monday (June 22), Judge Amy Berman Jackson, a Barack Obama-appointed judge, blocked the Trump administration, ruling the Agriculture Department lacked the authority to approve the restrictions on SNAP. The judge said:
“Congress defined what ‘food’ is supposed to be, and it did not authorize the agency to amend or waive the definition it enacted. It did not authorize the agency to cut types of food out of SNAP entirely.”
The USDA defended its effort and vowed to continue pursuing the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. A spokesperson told CBS News:
“The idea that taxpayer funds should not be used to purchase junk food should not be controversial. We will not be backing down from the fight to Make America Healthy Again, including for families and communities reliant on SNAP.”
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