House Republicans are actively working on a legislative effort to establish stricter work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps. This move is part of a broader initiative to reduce government expenditure and generate savings to support President Donald Trump's extensive legislative agenda, often referred to as the "big, beautiful bill." The effort involves coordination across 11 different House committees, each responsible for crafting a segment of the comprehensive legislation under their jurisdiction.
One of the key components of the proposed legislation, unveiled recently, seeks to extend the upper age limit for work requirements associated with SNAP. Currently, these requirements apply to able-bodied adults up to the age of 54, but the new proposal aims to extend this to those up to the age of 64. Additionally, while existing rules exempt individuals with dependents under 18, the new provision would include those with children over the age of 7, provided they meet the work requirement criteria.
The House Agriculture Committee, which is responsible for overseeing federal food programs and supporting American agriculture, has been tasked with identifying $230 billion in spending cuts from a total budget of $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion. These cuts are intended to offset the costs of President Trump's other priorities. Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson, a Republican from Pennsylvania, emphasized that the SNAP program has deviated from its original purpose of providing temporary support and has become bogged down by bureaucratic inefficiencies and limited accountability. The proposed changes aim to restore the program's original intent by encouraging work, closing loopholes, and protecting taxpayer dollars while supporting American agriculture.
The proposed legislation also introduces changes to how SNAP costs are covered. Currently, the federal government fully funds SNAP costs across all 50 states and covers half of the states' administrative costs. However, starting in 2028, states would be required to contribute a 5% baseline benefit cost share. States with higher rates of erroneous payments would be required to pay even more. Furthermore, the government’s reimbursement rate for states' administrative costs would be reduced from 50% to 25%.
This legislative effort aligns with broader Republican goals to advance Trump's policy agenda through the budget reconciliation process. Reconciliation is a legislative tool that allows the majority party in Congress to pass significant budget-related legislation with a simple majority vote, bypassing the usual 60-vote threshold in the Senate. This effectively sidelines Democrats in the process and aligns with Trump's priorities on issues such as border security, immigration, taxes, energy, defense, and raising the debt ceiling.
The House Agriculture Committee, along with two other key committees, is advancing its portion of the legislation. Once all 11 House committees finalize their individual sections, these will be combined into a comprehensive bill that must pass both the House and Senate in identical form before reaching President Trump's desk for approval.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, has expressed his desire for the House to complete its portion of the legislative effort by Memorial Day. This timeline underscores the urgency and significance of the legislative push.
Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, provides coverage of the House of Representatives and has contributed to this report. Readers interested in following updates from the 2024 campaign trail and other political content from Fox News can subscribe to their newsletter for the latest information and exclusive interviews.