Food-stamp fraud numbers expose which states are draining the most taxpayer dollars
New data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reveal the states where the nation’s largest food assistance program is costing taxpayers the most through fraud and misuse.The size and scope...
By Fox News · Fox News
New data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reveal the states where the nation’s largest food assistance program is costing taxpayers the most through fraud and misuse. The size and scope of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports more than 40 million Americans, came under renewed scrutiny during the government shutdown as funding for the sweeping food assistance program neared a funding lapse. CHARTS ILLUSTRATE THE SCALE OF SNAP AS MILLIONS FACE POTENTIAL BENEFIT LAPSE The spotlight on the program, meant to be a lifeline for low-income households, was welcomed by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who told Fox Business on Monday that the Trump administration will require all SNAP participants to reapply for benefits in an effort to prevent fraud. Rollins has previously said that one of her top early priorities was reevaluating SNAP, amid concerns about who qualifies and how the program is monitored. "There are vulnerable families in America that need this program that aren’t getting it because of the fraud and abuse that now we’re going to work to fix," Rollins said. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CITES WIDESPREAD MISUSE OF SNAP AS FUNDING LAPSES DURING SHUTDOWN The scale of the program is striking. During former President Joe Biden's administration, federal spending on SNAP climbed to record highs at $128 billion in 2021 and $127 billion in 2022, largely driven by COVID-19 relief measures that expanded access to food assistance. Last year, SNAP cost $99.8 billion , with participants receiving an average of $187 in monthly benefits, federal data show. As part of her review of SNAP benefits, Rollins said she directed states in February to share data on recipients. ALL SNAP RECIPIENTS REQUIRED TO REAPPLY AS TRUMP ADMIN CRACKS DOWN ON FRAUD So far, only 29 states, mostly Republican-led, have complied. She said even that limited data has already uncovered significant misuse, including 186,000 deceased individuals receiving benefits and about…