Secretary Rollins prevents illegal aliens from receiving taxpayer-funded SNAP Benefits

Today, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor, Department of Justice, and Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued notice to all relevant program partners making clear its interpretation of the term “Federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). The notice also identifies potential USDA programs that provide “Federal public benefits” within the scope of PRWORA.  

“The generosity of the American taxpayer has long been abused by faulty interpretations of 1996 welfare reform law,” said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “Today’s notice makes clear its intent—illegal aliens should not receive government dollars. This effort is one of many by the Department of Agriculture to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse of USDA’s programs and policies.” 

On her first full day in office, Secretary Rollins sent a letter to our nation’s state, tribal, territory, and local government partners, outlining her vision for the Department. This vision includes taking swift action to minimize instances of fraud, waste, and program abuse and encouraging states to choose policy options that protect both participants and the taxpayer.

On April 24, 2025, the Department issued guidance to all State agencies directing them to ensure that illegal immigrants do not receive federal benefits. The guidance requires enhanced identity and immigration verification practices when determining eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and is one of many steps toward fulfilling President Trump’s Executive Order 14218, “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.”  

On May 6, 2025, the Department sent a letter to make certain all records associated with SNAP, including benefit allotments, are shared with the federal government. This will allow for real-time program data analyses and transparency, a concept reflected in President Trump’s Executive Order 14243, “Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos.”