Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins — the head of Donald Trump‘s USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) — has announced that they’re rebuilding SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) and all recipients must reapply for benefits after the department’s massive fraud investigation found over 186,000 dead participants and over 500,000 double dippers (people receiving benefits under the same name twice).
Supreme Court Grants Donald Trump Administration’s Appeal To Temporarily Block Full Funding Of SNAP Benefits Amid Government Shutdown
The USDA’s newest report arrived hours after SNAP benefits were reinstated following a 43-day government shutdown. On November 12, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history ended after 43 days. Before that, on November 9, Senate Democrats caved to Republicans, ending the shutdown. Then on November 12, the House followed and passed the bill to end the shutdown and fund the government through January 30.
Later that night, President Trump officially ended his second government shutdown between two terms by signing the bill. Ahead of the big moment, the Trump administration agreed to issue full payments on SNAP benefits “within 24 hours” of the shutdown’s end. Beneficiaries should expect to receive benefits in full by Monday (November 17).
Before all of this, on October 31, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to use contingency funds to pay out SNAP benefits payments as a temporary pause to food stamps loomed beginning on November 1. By November 3, the administration backtracked, adamantly declaring it would only “partially” fund SNAP benefits. The statement arrived after at least two federal judges ordered the continuation of the food aid program. On November 6, a federal court judge again ordered Trump to fully fund SNAP.
Immediately after, the Trump administration appealed the decision to the First Circuit Court of Appeals. In the appeal, the administration requested an emergency block. The White House claimed it would only cough up 65% due to families relaying on government food stamps. On November 7, the Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s appeal, temporarily blocking the federal order demanding a full funding of SNAP amid the shutdown.
USDA Rebuilding SNAP And All Recipients Must Reapply For Benefits, Claims Massive Fraud Investigation Found Over 186K Dead Participants & 500K Double Dippers
Within 24 hours of the government reinstating SNAP benefits, following the longest government shutdown in U.S. History, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the Donald Trump administration is planning to rebuild SNAP and have all beneficiaries, a reported 42 million Americans, reapply for the program due to alleged fraud.
During a November 13 appearance on Newsmax’s ‘Rob Schmitt Tonight,’ Rollins claimed that the administration conducted a massive fraud investigation into SNAP. The probe reviewed data from 29 states (mostly red) that complied with USDA’s request for information back in February. Rollins shared the results and said:
“But here’s the most unbelievable news I have [learned] really just over the last few days: That 5,000 dead people, that was just one month; the number is closer to 186,000 deceased men and women and children in this country are receiving a check. Now, that is what we’re really going to start clamping down on. Half a million (500,000) are getting two.
But here’s the really stunning thing: this is just data form 29, mostly red states. Can you imagine when we get our hands on the blue state data? It’s going to give us a platform and a trajectory to fundamentally rebuild this program, have everyone reapply for their benefit, make sure that everyone that’s taking a taxpayer-funded benefit through SNAP or food stamps, that they literally are vulnerable, and they can’t survive without it. And that’s the next step here.”
Another USDA spokesperson told The Hill:
“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.”
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