Will the USDA Dismantle SNAP Food Stamps? What You Need to Know

USDA announces a deep restructuring of the SNAP program

Millions will need to reapply for benefits

New rules and stricter verifications expected

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that it will launch a broad review of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The decision could force millions of households to re-enroll in order to maintain access to food assistance.

The measure comes at a time when many low-income families depend on this monthly support to cover basic needs.

The debate arises as the government argues that the program faces fraud and abuse that must be eliminated.

SNAP food stamps under federal scrutiny

SNAP food stamps are at the center of a restructuring announced by Secretary Brooke Rollins.

In statements to Newsweek, Rollins said the program is plagued by fraud, waste, and abuse.

She explained that the goal is to “dismantle it completely” and rebuild it from scratch, establishing more rigorous recertification processes and continuous analysis of state-level data.

The USDA stated that under the new verification system, millions of beneficiaries will need to reapply for their benefits.

Rollins, in interviews with Fox Business and CNN, described SNAP as a “broken” program “riddled with corruption,” citing preliminary numbers:

186,000 deceased people receiving benefits

Over 500,000 duplicate enrollments across multiple states

According to USDA data cited by Fox Business, during the first quarter of 2025 alone, officials detected:

226,000 fraudulent applications

691,000 transactions classified as suspicious

USDA and SNAP changes driven by recent laws

USDA announces a deep restructuring of the SNAP program – PHOTO: Shutterstock

The reform spearheaded by the USDA is tied to the new work requirements included in the One Big Beautiful Bill.

These rules could remove individuals who fail to meet required work hours or documentation obligations.

SNAP changes also include mass recertification to remove recipients who no longer qualify under the tightened criteria.

President Donald Trump supported the measure, stating that SNAP must focus on people living in “extreme poverty,” not on those who, according to him, “can work and simply choose not to.”

Impact on the Latino community

For low-income Hispanic families, these changes may lead to temporary disruptions in food access.

Many Latino households face language barriers or unstable work schedules, which makes meeting work requirements or completing recertification on time more difficult.

Communities with temporary workers, day laborers, or hourly jobs face an increased risk of losing SNAP benefits.

Mass recertification could also create delays that directly affect households’ ability to secure food.

What the experts are saying

“Secretary Rollins wants to end the fraud, waste, and persistent abuse within the SNAP program,” the USDA told Newsweek.

What’s next

The government will continue analyzing state data and creating new regulations.

Beneficiaries will need to prepare to:

Reconfirm eligibility

Update documentation

Navigate stricter verification processes

This transition marks one of the most significant changes to federal food assistance programs in the past decade.