USDA Approves SNAP Waivers Limiting Sugary Foods, Drinks in Six States

The Trump administration has approved waiver requests from six states—Oklahoma, West Virginia, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and Colorado—to restrict the purchase of sugary drinks and certain unhealthy foods using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. These waivers remove items such as candy, sodas, energy drinks, and sweetened teas from SNAP eligibility in an effort to combat obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases linked to diet. Governors from Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Colorado emphasized the public health benefits of these changes, highlighting the need to ensure taxpayer dollars support healthier food choices. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed the waivers, urging states to innovate in promoting healthier communities. The waivers will take effect at different times, with Oklahoma’s starting January 1 and Colorado’s in March 2026. This initiative is part of a broader Trump administration effort to reshape SNAP toward improving nutrition and reducing diet-related health problems nationwide.