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SNAP participants need to reapply, Sec. Rollins says
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Friday that the Trump administration will require SNAP participants to reapply for benefits following the 43-day government shutdown. Politico's Grace Yarrow joins LiveNOW's Austin Westfall to discuss.
The Trump administration says it will require millions of low-income people to reapply for food stamps as part of an effort to crack down on fraud.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told Newsmax that she plans to have everyone reapply for their SNAP benefits, but the details remain unclear.
Reapplying for SNAP benefits
What we know:
Grace Yarrow, a reporter for Politico, told LiveNow from FOX that the move is part of a larger effort by Republicans to crack down on fraud.
Sign advertising We Accept SNAP and EBT, referring to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Electronic benefit transfer, in window of a store in Lafayette, California, November 4, 2025. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
SNAP beneficiaries are already required to recertify their application information every six to 12 months, updating work history and income to make sure they still qualify, Yarrow said.
What we don't know:
Rollins hasn’t said when or how people would need to reapply. The US Department of Agriculture hasn’t responded to requests for comment.
What they're saying:
"So a lot of the fraud that Republicans, including Agriculture Secretary Rollins, are talking about is cracking down on folks receiving SNAP who aren't working," Yarrow explained.
RELATED: When will SNAP payments resume now that the government shutdown has ended?
"Republicans have already sought to crack down on error payments, which are just miscalculations from SNAP administrators, et cetera. So we have to stay tuned and figure out exactly what the department is planning on this."
By the numbers:
Rollins this week said that 186,000 deceased men and women and children are receiving a check. She cited data from 29 states that complied with the USDA's request for information.
Republicans already passed a $186 billion cut to SNAP earlier this year.
About 1 in 8 Americans in lower-income households receive food stamps. They receive an average of $190 per month.
"USDA has spent decades trying to crack down on how much they're spending and restrict it to just those who truly need help," Yarrow said. "But I think it's really come across as a renewed call for some reform to the program.
"We see a lot conservative commentators come out and talk about reforming the program, restricting what SNAP participants can buy, ensuring that the folks who are receiving money truly need it."
Restricting SNAP benefits
The backstory:
Amid the government shutdown, the Trump administration suspended benefits for the 42 million Americans who receive them. Federal courts intervened, but there have been widespread delays for the benefits to be restored.
Republicans have already moved to restrict SNAP benefits, including expanding work requirements and changing the age of what they describe as a child.
"A lot of folks will already get kicked off of the program at that point," Yarrow said. "The reapplication piece could be a key part of that."
What SNAP recipients should do now
What you can do:
Yarrow said SNAP recipients should review the new rules found on the USDA’s website, and also make sure that their qualification information is up-to-date. Some of the new work requirements kicked in on Nov. 1.
"Once state administrators get over this obstacle of trying to re-implement full benefits now that the government is open, they're going to be looking to make sure that they're implementing the GOP's SNAP plan appropriately. So I would just advise folks to check on that, make sure they understand the new rules, and you can find that on the USDA's website."
The Source: This report includes information from Politico reporter Grace Yarrow, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and The Associated Press.