The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it conducted operations to target criminals stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Why It Matters
SNAP benefits are paid to low- and no-income households across the U.S. that would otherwise struggle to afford groceries. Last year, the program reached some 41 million Americans.
SNAP benefit theft is a pervasive issue. In the final quarter of 2024, there were almost 147,000 approved claims for stolen benefits nationwide, amounting to $69 million being paid out. More than $220 million has been spent on paying back theft victims since the second quarter of 2023, according to a dedicated USDA stolen benefits tracker.
What To Know
The USDA said in a news release issued on May 2 that it had “conducted operations” to target “criminals engaged in defrauding American taxpayers.”
In conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement, the USDA “surveilled over 100 locations in southern California, including multiple SNAP retailers,” the agency reported. It added, “These operations resulted in numerous arrests and the collection of high value evidence.”
SNAP benefits are administered to recipients through electronic benefit transfer cards, which are loaded with money each month to use in participating stores across the country. Like regular debit or credit cards, they are subject to scams, which include cloning, phishing or skimming.
Late last year, the USDA ended the federal reimbursement of stolen SNAP benefits. For benefits stolen prior to December 21, 2024, these were in most cases reimbursed by the USDA, which funds the program.
However, the funding required to repay theft victims was not approved by Congress in a continuing resolution passed by lawmakers in December. At the time, the federal agency said, “SNAP state agencies can choose to replace stolen benefits using state funds.”
What People Are Saying
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said in a news release: “Fraud will not be tolerated by the Trump Administration. I want to thank our hardworking law enforcement officers who work every day to ensure federal benefits are properly distributed and safeguard taxpayer dollars from criminals. President Trump is restoring law and order. At USDA we are fighting back against fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars and ensuring those who need and qualify for benefits, actually receive them.”
Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services John Walk said: “These are truly sick and depraved individuals who are stealing food from low-income Americans for their own profit. It is especially disturbing when international criminal organizations siphon tax dollars away from SNAP beneficiaries to fund their own illicit activities. I commend Secretary Rollins attention in fighting this fraud.”
What Happens Next
After SNAP theft refunds ended, Representative Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, introduced a bill in Congress that calls for the reinstatement of federal funding to cover SNAP recipients who have fallen victim to benefits theft.
It remains to be seen whether the SNAP SECURE Act of 2025, which was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 24, will become law.
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