Unusual Whales

Trump administration may ban the use of food stamps for purchasing junk food

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Food Stamp Recipients May Face Ban on Sugary Drinks, Junk Food

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Friday that the federal government may restrict food stamp recipients from purchasing sugary drinks and junk food as part of a broader effort to promote healthier eating.

Speaking outside the White House, Rollins emphasized that the goal is to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are directed toward nutritious food choices. She will collaborate with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to assess potential reforms.

"Will we ever take food out of a hungry child’s mouth? Of course not. This is the United States of America," Rollins told reporters.

"But this program has grown massively—especially under Biden. SNAP expanded by nearly 30% during his administration. We need to examine where this money is going and what it's being spent on."

She added:

"I look forward to working with Bobby Kennedy to determine if we are truly offering the healthiest choices. Should taxpayer dollars be used to buy sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks when children could be receiving more nutritious options?"

New Commission to Oversee Nutrition Policy

Rollins and Kennedy were both confirmed by the Senate on Thursday and will serve on President Trump’s newly created 13-member "Make America Healthy Again" commission.

SNAP, which provided benefits to 42.1 million Americans in fiscal year 2023, had an annual cost of $112.8 billion, with recipients receiving an average of $211.93 per month, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

While details of the proposed restrictions remain unclear, Congress is already considering legislation that would limit SNAP purchases of unhealthy foods.

  • A bill introduced by Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) aims to prohibit SNAP funds from being used on soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and desserts like cakes, cookies, and pies.
  • A bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Brecheen and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) would authorize a study on SNAP purchases to ensure better nutrition and diet quality.

SNAP benefits are distributed via preloaded debit cards, which can be used at grocery stores, making oversight of specific purchases challenging.

Growing Scrutiny of Federal Spending

The move to reform food assistance programs aligns with broader government efforts—led by DOGE and Elon Musk—to identify inefficiencies in federal spending.

Musk has already raised concerns about alleged fraud within government systems, including discrepancies in Social Security data and missing Treasury payments.