The Trump administration on Tuesday moved to cut millions more Americans from the nation's largest food assistance program, issuing a proposed rule that would curb automatic eligibility for food stamps for households receiving cash aid.
The proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture would limit so-called categorical eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, also known as food stamps, for households receiving cash aid under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. SNAP eligibility is generally set at 130 percent of the federal poverty level.
Under the USDA's proposed change, nearly 18 percent of SNAP recipients — about 6.3 million people — would lose benefits, according to an agency analysis included in the proposed rule. The public will have 30 days to comment on the proposal before the department can finalize it.
The move comes even as enrollment in the program continues to fall from other administration cuts. More than 5.5 million people have already lost SNAP benefits since President Donald Trump enacted cuts to the program in his July 2025 tax law, bringing enrollment to about 36 million people, according to USDA data.
