New Federal Rules and Shutdown Threaten Food Stamp Access Nationwide

The ongoing federal government shutdown has placed millions of Americans at risk of losing access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, exacerbated by new federal rules enacted under President Donald Trump's administration that increase work requirements and restrict eligibility for many non-citizens. In Hawaiʻi, these changes mandate that food stamp recipients, including adults aged 55 to 64 and homeless individuals, work an average of 80 hours monthly, which local advocates warn is unrealistic and will likely lead to significant benefit losses and hunger. Additionally, new rules exclude many non-citizens from SNAP eligibility, though people from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau remain eligible under the Compacts of Free Association. A conservative think tank highlighted that nearly 1.5 million non-citizens received SNAP benefits, costing billions annually, with recent immigration policies contributing to increased benefit use by undocumented individuals. In New Jersey, local officials criticized President Trump and Republican legislators for the shutdown and the impact on 800,000 residents, urging the use of contingency funds to prevent a disruption in November SNAP benefits, while condemning the administration's approach as harmful to vulnerable populations. These developments underscore the precarious situation for many relying on food assistance amid political stalemates and policy shifts targeting program eligibility and funding.