Republican Congress members say USDA abused its authority with SNAP increase

From the Committee On Oversight and Reform

WASHINGTON—Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer and House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations Ranking Member Don Bacon (R-Neb.) wrote Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack about the 27% increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

SNAP benefits are intended to help low-income Americans provide food for their families. SNAP benefits are increased annually to match inflation. This year, however, the Biden Administration increased SNAP benefits far beyond inflation levels, costing American taxpayers an additional $20 billion annually.

“The Biden Administration is abusing its authority and expanding SNAP—without congressional authorization,” wrote Congressmen Comer and Bacon.

“The law requires the Thrifty Food Plan to be updated every five years. The Biden Administration, however, broke with longstanding precedent that the USDA only increase the cost of the plan in accordance with inflation. Even last month, the Congressional Budget Office acknowledged this precedent when it estimated only inflationary adjustments to the Plan through 2031 . . . The Biden Administration’s actions to dramatically expand SNAP—without guardrails and without congressional input—appears to be another example of its efforts to keep Americans dependent on government handouts.”

The full letter is available here.

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