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Trump Budget Takes Aim at SNAP, Social Programs

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The budget also renews proposed requirements for SNAP recipients are required to work at least 20 hours a week.

If you feel like you’ve heard this story before...well, you have.

The Trump administration released their 2021 budget this week, and many social programs are on the chopping block, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The budget proposes a 29 percent cut in SNAP funding, or about a $15 billion decrease from last year.

The budget also renews the proposed requirements for SNAP recipients to be required to work at least 20 hours a week.

Cuts to SNAP funding and work requirements are nothing new. The administration first proposed a work requirement for SNAP recipients in the House Republican proposals for the 2018 Farm Bill. The requirement was eventually rejected by Congress.

The 2021 budget also includes a renewed proposal for a USDA Harvest Box, created by Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue, and rejected twice by Congress.

About 700,000 people are already set to lose access to SNAP in April, when the first of three rules kicks in that will ultimately cut three million people from the program.

The Trump administration also asked Congress for stricter access to free meals for low-income children at public schools.

Read More:

  • Food stamp change would hurt kids, educators and advocates testify (NBC News)

  • Trump Budget Would Fray Social Safety Net (New York Times)

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