In a recent effort to shape up America’s largest food welfare program, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has signed off on a set of waivers that will restrict the purchase of soda, candy, and other processed “junk foods” using taxpayer-funded SNAP benefits.
Joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and several Republican governors, Rollins signed waivers for six states – West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas- allowing them to redefine what qualifies as health food under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, per the USDA.
The move aligns with President Trump’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) campaign, which frames nutrition reform as both a public health issue and a fight for financial responsibility in America.
“At USDA, we play a key role in supporting Americans who fall on hard times, and that commitment does not change. Rather, these state waivers promote healthier options for families in need,” Rollins said.
The SNAP change will go into effect in 2026 and is expected to impact millions of recipients of the assistance program. Previously, SNAP funds could be used to purchase almost any grocery store item except alcohol, tobacco, hot meals, or hygiene products. The new waivers expand those restrictions to include soft drinks, candy, and other highly processed foods; items many Americans pay for out of pocket but have long been subsidized for SNAP users.
The new rules could be a shift in how federal food or assistance programs are managed in the future.
Rather than continuing what critics could describe as a “blank check” for junk food, Trump’s team is working to tie welfare benefits to healthier choices, which may end up protecting both vulnerable Americans and the taxpayers footing the bill.
“Earlier this year, I requested a waiver from the USDA to ensure SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase junk food. I applaud Secretary Rollins and the Trump Administration for their approval of this waiver to support and promote healthy eating habits. The State of Texas will continue to consider innovative ways for Texans to lead healthy and productive lives,” said Gov. Greg Abbott.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey echoed that sentiment, calling the move another step toward reversing negative health trends and helping West Virginians “live long, healthy, and purposeful lives.”
Even Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, praised the change, highlighting the connection between SNAP-eligible items and what local grocers choose to stock.
“Today’s waiver is a big step towards improving the health of Coloradans, and reducing obesity rates, diabetes, and tooth decay. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is designed to support the nutritional needs of those struggling to put food on the table, and this waiver will help to ensure that more Coloradans participating in SNAP have access to healthy foods,” Polis said.
Over the past few years alone, Americans’ poor dietary choices have become a growing problem.
America has one of the highest obesity and Type 2 diabetes rates in the world, with public health costs skyrocketing, and often paid for by the very taxpayers also funding SNAP, per the USDA.
“For years, SNAP has used taxpayer dollars to fund soda and candy—products that fuel America’s diabetes and chronic disease epidemics,” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. added.
Monday’s waiver signings add six more states to the MAHA initiative, building on waivers already granted earlier this year to Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, Arkansas, Idaho, and Utah.
Rollins has encouraged all 50 states to submit similar applications, claiming that the USDA is ready to support governors willing to tackle the junk food problem head-on.