USDA Mandates SNAP Transparency from All States
In a significant policy update, the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has instructed all states to provide full records related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The aim is to ensure transparency and compliance with federal funding laws.
This step follows Executive Order 14243, “Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos,” signed by President Trump on March 20, 2025.
The order directs all agency heads to secure access to comprehensive data on federally funded state programs, even if such data is managed by private third parties like EBT processors.
SNAP, which is federally funded but state-administered, has long operated without real-time oversight by the USDA. The new policy allows the USDA to track how funds are distributed and used, ensuring only eligible individuals receive assistance.
“President Trump is rightfully requiring the federal government to have access to all programs it funds,” said Secretary Rollins. “SNAP is no exception. For years, this program has been on autopilot, with no USDA insight into real-time data. The Department is focused on appropriate and lawful participation in SNAP, and today’s request is one of many steps to ensure SNAP is preserved for only those eligible.”
This guidance will allow USDA to examine detailed records involving SNAP participants, retailers, and processors. The move emphasizes integrity, aiming to strengthen federal and state partnerships in delivering food assistance.
USDA officials believe this will close data gaps, reduce fraud, and ensure federal dollars are used responsibly. It marks a new era in SNAP governance, placing federal oversight at the centre of one of the largest food aid programs in the U.S.