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The Trump administration is proposing changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, that could result in more than 6 million people losing food assistance benefits.
The proposal, announced Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, aims to restrict a policy known as broad-based categorical eligibility, or BBCE. The policy allows some households that receive certain benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, known as TANF, to automatically qualify for SNAP even if they exceed some of the program’s income or asset limits.
The TANF program provides federal grants to states to distribute cash and non-cash benefits such as child care subsidies, employment training and other services to low-income families with children. The incomes of recipients vary by program and state, which set their own eligibility rules.
Federal guidelines generally limit SNAP food benefits to those earning less than 130% of the poverty level, a little over $1,700 monthly for an individual or nearly $3,600 for a family of four. To reduce duplicative paperwork, the federal government allows people who already receive TANF benefits to automatically qualify for SNAP — though they still have to apply.
Most states use that automatic eligibility to expand SNAP benefits to people who might not otherwise qualify, according to a 2025 USDA report.
Under the proposed rule, households that qualify for SNAP solely because they received non-cash TANF benefits would no longer automatically be eligible for the food assistance program.
The USDA said the change is intended to ensure benefits are directed to households with the greatest financial need.
According to an agency impact analysis, about 6.3 million people could lose SNAP benefits by fiscal year 2029 if the proposal is implemented. The USDA estimates that nearly 17% of households currently receiving benefits would no longer qualify because their income or assets exceed federal eligibility thresholds.
The proposal could also affect children who receive free meals at school. Being in a household that receives SNAP benefits also makes school children eligible for free meals. The Agriculture Department says that nearly 1.8 million children would lose eligibility for free school breakfast and lunch programs as a result of the changes, but that 97% of them would still qualify for free or reduced price school meals through another process.
In a notice outlining the proposal, the department argued that current rules allow some households with incomes or resources above federal limits to receive SNAP assistance.
USDA estimates the changes would reduce federal SNAP spending by about $44 billion over the next five years. The agency said allowing households that exceed federal eligibility limits to continue receiving benefits is “irresponsible to Congress and taxpayers.”
The proposed rule would affect one of the nation’s largest anti-hunger programs, which provides food assistance to roughly 36 million Americans.
The changes are not yet final. The proposal is open for public comment through Dec. 10, 2026, after which USDA will review feedback before deciding whether to finalize, revise or withdraw the rule.
If approved, the changes would not take effect immediately. According to the agency’s analysis, implementation would not begin until 2029.
This story originally appeared on Telemundo San Diego.
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