In a recent development, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins revealed that 29 states have complied with a federal request to share data from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure that illegal immigrants are not receiving benefits.
However, 21 states, predominantly governed by Democrats, have refused to cooperate. Rollins addressed this issue during an appearance on Fox & Friends, emphasizing the importance of adhering to federal law, which prohibits illegal immigrants from accessing SNAP benefits.
According to The Post Millennial, Rollins noted that the USDA had reached out to all 50 governors in February, reminding them of this legal stipulation and requesting data for a federal review. "We increased almost 40 percent on this program in just a couple of years under the Biden administration," Rollins stated, highlighting the surge in SNAP enrollment.
The compliance of 29 states with the data request led to the discovery of "thousands" of instances of illegal SNAP usage, including fraudulent EBT card activities. Rollins further mentioned that nearly 700,000 individuals have been removed from the program since President Trump took office, with approximately 118 arrests made in connection with fraud investigations.
Rollins expressed concern over the current state of the program, stating, "What this country has allowed is a national spotlight on a broken and corrupt program." She also pointed out that investigators uncovered more than 5,000 cases where individuals continued to receive benefits posthumously.
"It is time to drastically reform this program so that we can make sure that those who are truly needy, truly vulnerable, are getting what they need," she asserted.
In a post on X, Rollins reiterated her stance, noting that 21 Democrat-led states had refused to comply, with two even suing the USDA over the data request. The SNAP program has been under scrutiny amid the ongoing government shutdown, with concerns about a potential temporary halt in benefits.
A federal judge has mandated that SNAP payments continue for the 42 million Americans dependent on them, while the Trump administration has sought clarification from the court on the legal funding of these benefits during the shutdown. This situation underscores the need for a balanced approach that ensures the integrity of welfare programs while safeguarding taxpayer dollars.
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