Washington plans to cut 6.3 million Americans from food stamps
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Business Day (South Africa)
The Trump administration proposes a rule that would remove automatic access to SNAP food stamps for households helped by the TANF programme. According to an analysis by the Department of Agriculture attached to the draft, nearly 18% of recipients, or about 6.3 million people, would lose their benefits.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes removing about 6.3 million people from the SNAP food assistance programme, known as food stamps, according to an analysis by the agency included in the draft rule. The text would target households that receive TANF cash assistance, aimed at poor families, and that currently access SNAP without having to meet federal income thresholds.
Today, eligibility for TANF varies by state but generally falls between 130% and 200% of the federal poverty line, compared with 130% for SNAP. Nearly 18% of SNAP recipients would be affected. The draft states it aims to "preserve aid for people who are truly in need". The number of recipients has already fallen by more than 5.5 million since the July 2025 tax law backed by President Donald Trump, to around 36 million people, according to USDA data.
The USDA also estimates that 1.8 million children would lose access to free school meals, as enrolment in SNAP opens entitlement to other food aid. Angie Craig, a Democratic representative from Minnesota who chairs the House Agriculture Committee, described the rule as "heartless and cruel". The public has 30 days to submit comments on the draft.
