If you’ve been keeping an eye on your grocery bill lately, you know it’s getting rough. But behind the scenes at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a much bigger storm has been brewing. Basically, the Trump administration has spent the last year tearing into the way the Biden-Harris team managed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and honestly, the accusations are pretty wild.
Earlier in 2025, the USDA, now led by Secretary Brooke Rollins, officially went on the warpath. They released a blistering statement claiming that the previous administration basically used a "politics-over-commonsense" approach that blew a hole in the federal budget. The core of the argument? That Biden’s USDA essentially "handed" out billions to people who shouldn't have been getting them.
The $250 Billion Bone of Contention
The drama mostly centers on something called the Thrifty Food Plan. Now, that sounds like a boring internal manual, but it’s actually the formula used to decide how much money a family of four gets on their EBT card. Back in 2021, the Biden administration re-evaluated this plan and triggered a 21% permanent increase in benefits.
Trump’s team isn't just saying it was too much; they’re calling it "unlawful" and "financial mismanagement." Kailee Buller, the USDA Chief of Staff, didn't mince words when she said the previous leadership "compromised the integrity of SNAP."
The numbers are staggering. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently projected that SNAP spending is on track to be $257 billion higher than it would have been without those Biden-era changes. To the current USDA, that’s not just a policy shift—it’s a "material weakness" in how the government handles our tax dollars.
Why the "Big Beautiful Bill" Changed Everything
You might have heard about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), which Trump signed into law in July 2025. It’s basically the sledgehammer that’s being used to "right-size" the program. Here is the reality: SNAP as we knew it under Biden is gone.
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The new law does a few things that have Democratic governors absolutely fuming. First, it expanded work requirements for "able-bodied adults." It used to be that once you hit 54, you were in the clear. Now, if you're between 18 and 64, you've gotta put in 80 hours a month of work, training, or volunteering, or you lose your benefits after three months.
Second, it’s getting way harder for certain groups to qualify. For instance, the "Big Beautiful Bill" restricted eligibility for many legally present immigrants, including some refugees and asylees who had been protected for decades.
The Fraud "Witch Hunt" or Necessary Audit?
In late 2025, Secretary Rollins dropped a bombshell. She told a Cabinet meeting that her agency found "massive fraud" in the data provided by states. She then did something pretty unprecedented: she threatened to withhold SNAP funding from states—mostly those led by Democrats—if they didn't hand over the names and immigration status of every single recipient.
Twenty-two states and D.C. sued.
The states argue that they already verify everyone and that sharing "large swaths of sensitive data" with the feds is a massive privacy violation. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office basically called it a "political vendetta."
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But the USDA is doubling down. They argue that 29 states have already complied, and the holdouts are just hiding the fact that they’re "haphazardly" handing out food stamps to anyone who asks.
A Shutdown and a Food Crisis
Things got really dark during the 43-day government shutdown in late 2025. For the first time in history, there was a real chance that 42 million people weren't going to get their food money.
The USDA actually argued it didn't have the legal authority to use emergency "contingency funds" to pay for November benefits. It took a series of court orders from federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to force the administration to pay up. Even then, it was a mess. The USDA would send guidance saying "pay the people," and then Trump would post on Truth Social saying "no, not until the Radical Left opens the government."
It was whiplash for state agencies. One day they were told to issue full benefits, the next day a Saturday-night memo from the USDA told them to "immediately undo" those payments.
The Future of Your Grocery Benefits
If you’re wondering what’s next, keep an eye on October 2026. That’s when a major shift in the "Administrative Cost Share" kicks in.
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Historically, the feds and the states split the cost of running SNAP 50/50. Under the new rules, states will have to pick up 75% of the bill. On top of that, starting in 2027, states will have to pay for a portion of the actual food benefits if their "error rate" is too high.
"Payment errors are largely unintentional... for example, the state agency incorrectly calculates a household's expenses." — National Conference of State Legislatures.
Essentially, the Trump USDA is turning SNAP into a "pay-to-play" system for states. If a state doesn't run a tight ship, they’ll have to dig into their own state budgets to feed their residents.
Actionable Insights for SNAP Recipients and Families
With all this political fighting, the rules are changing almost monthly. If you or someone you know relies on these benefits, here is what you need to do right now:
- Update Your Work Records: If you are between 18 and 64 and don't have a disability or a child under 14 at home, make sure your state agency has proof of your 80 hours of work or volunteering. The "hold harmless" periods for these new rules are ending.
- Check Your Eligibility Status: If you are a non-citizen, even a legal one, your status may have changed under the "One Big Beautiful Bill." Don't wait for a rejection letter; contact a legal aid society or a local food bank to see if you still qualify.
- Watch Your Recertification Date: The USDA is moving away from "broad-based categorical eligibility." This means "benefit cliffs" are back. Earning just a few dollars more could potentially cut off your entire benefit amount.
- Prepare for Delays: Given the ongoing legal battles between the USDA and "blue" states, benefit delays are becoming the new normal. If you can, try to build a small "emergency pantry" when sales hit.
The bottom line? The Trump USDA criticizes Biden's handling of SNAP benefits not just to win a debate, but to fundamentally shrink the program. Whether you see it as "fiscal responsibility" or "cruelty," the result is the same: fewer people on the rolls and more pressure on the states to pick up the tab.
Stay informed by checking the official USDA FNS website for the most recent Information Memorandums, as these are being updated frequently as court cases progress.