The Trump administration has granted six additional states — Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Texas, and Florida — permission to block the use of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for purchasing processed and junk food starting in 2026.
Colorado becomes the first Democratic-led state to adopt the policy, marking a notable shift in how states are allowed to tailor federal nutrition aid programs.
“SNAP is a supplemental nutrition program meant to provide healthy food benefits to low-income families… essential to health and well-being,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who approved the waivers Monday. “President Trump’s USDA plans to deliver on that.”
The move follows Nebraska’s precedent, which earlier banned soda and energy drinks from SNAP purchases under a federal waiver.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praised the initiative, tying it to his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign:
“U.S. taxpayers should not be paying to feed the poorest kids in our country with foods that are going to give them diabetes… We’re going to put an end to that, step by step, state by state.”
While advocates of the policy call it a necessary step to combat chronic disease and reduce future healthcare costs, critics, including researchers, argue that SNAP food restrictions are unlikely to shift eating habits. They also warn that tracking over 650,000 food and beverage items, along with 20,000 new products introduced each year, would be expensive and logistically complex.
Despite pushback, U.S. Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary supported the waivers, stating:
“I hope to see all 50 states join this bold commonsense approach. For too long, the root causes of our chronic disease epidemic have been addressed with lip service only.”
The controversial policy reflects a growing effort by the Trump administration to reshape public health through stricter nutrition guidelines tied to federal aid.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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