As part of the “Let America Be Healthy Again” initiative, the Trump administration is encouraging states to proactively “request waivers” to prohibit food stamp recipients from using the vouchers to purchase soda and other processed foods, aiming for “healthier families starting from the food we eat.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins pledged in a column published on Tuesday (April 8) in USA Today to take further actions together to advance the goal of “Let America Be Healthy Again” advocated by Kennedy and supported by President Trump.
Kennedy has consistently argued that federal subsidies should not be used to support foods that contribute to obesity and other chronic diseases.
In their article, Kennedy and Rollins stated that the Health Department and Agriculture Department are reforming the nation’s largest food assistance program — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as “food stamps,” and they called on all governors to submit “waiver applications” to restrict the items SNAP beneficiaries can purchase.
The article pointed out, “Today, one in every five American children is obese. This ratio was one in twenty in 1980. Among school-age children and adolescents, 40% have at least one chronic disease, compared to less than 4% in the 1980s.”
“This health crisis not only threatens the lives of several generations of American families but is also the biggest factor in U.S. healthcare costs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it accounts for approximately 90% of medical expenses.”
The two secretaries wrote, “We will encourage taxpayers’ money to be spent on healthy foods, such as whole milk, fruits, vegetables, and meats.”
They urged all governors to submit “waiver applications” to “help promote access to these key sources of nutrition, including restricting foods that can be purchased with food stamps, providing healthy foods to rural communities, and prioritizing nutritional standards for school meals.”
Currently, over 41 million low-income individuals receive SNAP benefits managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Some states have responded to food stamp reforms.
According to state government press releases, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen wrote to Rollins on April 7, indicating that the state will “request a waiver” to prohibit SNAP beneficiaries from using benefits to buy soda and energy drinks.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey signed a similar memorandum of understanding with Kennedy at the end of March during an event.
The secretaries also promised to ensure that the next edition of the “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” is science-based rather than politically motivated.
Furthermore, the Health and Agriculture Departments will work together to advance a “Buy American” policy, delivering food produced by American farmers to children and families through nutrition assistance programs. They emphasized that “while the federal government plays a key role in this effort, states are also making significant contributions.”
(This article was partially based on a report from Reuters)