EBT Benefits SNAP 2025

The Republican Party seeks to reduce the budget deficit with measures that would impact the food stamp program and its beneficiaries

With the return of Donald Trump to the presidency and a Congress led by the Republicans, significant changes are being proposed to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as the food stamp program. These proposals, aimed at reducing what the Republican Party calls "excessive government spending", could have a significant impact on millions of beneficiaries and the United States budget deficit.

Among the measures under discussion, three main changes stand out:

1. Elimination of presidential power to recalculate benefits:
   In 2018, the president was granted the authority to adjust SNAP benefits in response to certain needs, which could also increase the national debt. According to The Washington Post, Republicans believe eliminating this authority could reduce the deficit by tens of billions of dollars.
2. Restrictions on food purchased with SNAP:
   A recurring proposal in the House of Representatives is to limit the types of food beneficiaries can purchase with food stamps. This measure aims to reduce program costs but could limit flexibility for families in need.
3. Stricter work requirements:
   Another initiative seeks to expand work requirements to access SNAP, potentially making it harder for certain groups, especially those with precarious jobs or unstable work situations, to receive benefits.

While these proposals aim to reduce the deficit by billions of dollars, they have also raised concerns about their potential impact on low-income voters who rely on these benefits to meet their food needs. The feasibility and acceptance of these measures remain to be seen, especially given their possible unpopularity among broad sectors of the population.

Economic context

In addition to these reforms, experts are analyzing how the policies of the new administration could influence the overall cost of food, a crucial aspect for the most vulnerable households. The future of SNAP and its beneficiaries will be a central topic in political debates this year.