Trump administration seeks to cut food aid for more than six million people

What the report says

The Trump administration has proposed new eligibility rules for the United States’ main food assistance programme, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), that the Agriculture Department says would remove about 6.3 million people from benefits. According to Al Jazeera, the proposal would end automatic SNAP eligibility for households that qualify for another aid programme, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), changing a policy that has helped some families enroll more easily.

The USDA said the revision is intended to keep benefits focused on households it considers eligible while simplifying administration. The proposal is open to public comment for 30 days. Al Jazeera reported that more than 36 million people are currently enrolled in SNAP, with average monthly benefits of about $190 for individuals and $356 for households.

The change would have wider effects beyond food aid. The article says 1.8 million children could lose access to free school lunch programs because they would no longer qualify through SNAP. Democratic lawmakers criticized the plan, arguing it would make it harder for families to meet basic needs and would weaken a program designed to prevent hunger.

The proposal follows earlier Trump administration moves affecting SNAP, including past work-requirement changes and efforts to pressure states over program data. Al Jazeera placed the latest step in the broader context of a continuing push by the administration to tighten food assistance eligibility amid political fights over federal spending and safety-net policy.