A political firestorm over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) intensified this week after Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins revealed shocking levels of potential fraud and administrative failure within the program — including tens of thousands of deceased individuals listed as active SNAP recipients.
Rollins made the comments while discussing the current administration’s effort to audit and overhaul the program’s eligibility rolls. Rollins said she discovered immediately upon taking office that the federal government had never before requested comprehensive personal data on SNAP recipients from the states — including names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, and addresses.
“I sent the letter so we could make sure illegal immigrants aren’t getting benefits meant for American families,” Rollins wrote. “The Democrat Party has turned its back on working Americans and built its entire strategy around protecting illegal aliens. They know if the handouts stop, those illegals will go back home, and Democrats will lose 20+ seats after the next census.”
Red States Hand Over Data — and the Numbers Are Stunning
According to Rollins, 29 states — mostly Republican-led — provided their full data sets in February, March, and April. Those submissions formed the basis of an ongoing federal audit that Rollins said has revealed severe systemic problems.
Rollins said the widely discussed estimate that 5,000 deceased people were receiving SNAP benefits was actually just the tip of the iceberg — and only reflected a single month of data.
“The number is closer to 186,000 deceased men, women, and children in this country receiving a check,” Rollins said.
“The fact that this spotlight shined on SNAP has allowed us to talk about it,” Rollins said. “But here’s the most unbelievable news I have learned just over the last few days.”
She added that more than half a million individuals appear to be receiving duplicate SNAP payments, a problem she attributed to years of lax oversight and outdated eligibility systems.
Blue State Data Still Missing — and Rollins Predicts Much Worse
Rollins emphasized that the findings represent only the 29 states that submitted their data — and strongly suggested the numbers could balloon once Democratic-led states comply.
“This is just data from those 29, mostly red, states,” Rollins said. “Can you imagine when we get our hands on the blue state data, what we’re gonna find?”
She added that once the full national audit is complete, the data will be used as the foundation for a sweeping overhaul of the program.
“It’s gonna give us a platform and a trajectory to fundamentally rebuild this program,” Rollins said. “Have everyone reapply for their benefit, make sure that everyone that’s taking a taxpayer benefit through SNAP or food stamps literally is vulnerable and cannot survive without it.”
A Massive Policy Clash on the Horizon
Rollins’ comments immediately sparked backlash from Democrats, who argue Republicans are weaponizing administrative audits to cut benefits and stigmatize low-income households. Rollins and Republican lawmakers counter that the scale of apparent waste, fraud, and improper payments makes the audit unavoidable — and urgent.
With blue states still withholding their data and the Department of Agriculture vowing a full program rebuild, SNAP is now shaping up to be the next major political battlefield over welfare spending, state cooperation, and immigration policy.
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ARE THEY CHECKING WHERE THOSE CHECKS ARE GOING and WHO IS CASHING THEM???????? ARE THEY CHECK THE EMPLOYEES WHO INPUT THIESE FOR PAYMENYS?????? PERHAPS A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THE SS FUND, MANAGERS, and EMPLOYEES INVOLVED!!![ I TAKE THAT BACK, NOT PERHAPS – DONE and IMMEDIATELY!!!AND, FULL PUBLIC DISCLOSURE!!! ANY NON-CITIZEN and ILLEGALS REMOVED TOO!
We have to reapply for Medicare supplemental insurance ever year. It seems fair to reapply for SNAP.
Americans: Hello.
Americans: Hello. With the “re-applying” for SNAP, hopefully the illegals get screened-out…by making requirement for Proof of USA Citizenship for SNAP, by having to present each person’s State-issued Birth Certificate, at least a copy if done on-line. This showing Proof of USA Citizenship is also essential for the pending Emergency Census.
Showing a drivers license for SNAP or Voter ID is NOT sufficient, as countless illegals have acquired drivers licenses from many States like that State was handing out candy, which has polluted/compromised use of drivers licenses for Voter ID.