Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, took effect Monday, setting up adjustments in eligibility and benefits for millions of recipients.
Several reports attempting to analyze the impact of the changes failed to note how much of the reported effect includes previous recipients who are not U.S. citizens, or who qualified under noncitizen eligibility guidelines earlier as spelled out in U.S. Department of Agriculture program rules.
In addition to citizenship requirements, the new SNAP rules include work requirements. The change requires adult recipients to confirm that they perform 20 hours of work per week. Failure to report work hours could lead to the loss of eligibility, except for three months allowed once every three years.
As of Monday, the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service had not completed updating its website to reflect the new eligibility options for noncitizens.
The Trump administration this year required states to comply with supplying detailed recipient information as part of a broader anti-fraud effort in the department, aimed at ensuring that only eligible people receive benefits.
In July, 20 states banded together to file suit against the administration. Among their concerns was that the administration might use the information to enforce immigration law.
A release from Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, for example, focused on protecting residents but did not mention the law's changes to prioritize benefits for U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. A decision has not been issued in that lawsuit.
The Congressional Budget Office released a report on Aug. 11 estimating the impacts of the work requirement and noncitizen eligibility changes. The report said that "roughly 2.4 million people in an average month" could be forced from eligibility by the work requirement change.
The report did not, however, explain its methodology or how it could offer estimates for changes that had not yet taken effect and had no historically similar data available to compare.
Jim Mishler ✉
Jim Mishler, a seasoned reporter, anchor and news director, has decades of experience covering crime, politics and environmental issues.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.