House Republicans Push Bill To Block Food Stamps for Non-Citizens

Clear Facts

• House Republicans are proposing a bill to restrict non-citizens from receiving taxpayer-funded benefits like food stamps.
• The proposal aims to save taxpayers up to $8 billion over the next decade by limiting SNAP benefits to citizens and lawful permanent residents.
• Federal law currently allows certain non-citizen groups, such as refugees and migrants granted asylum, to receive SNAP benefits.

In a move to tighten the reins on taxpayer-funded benefits, House Republicans are pushing for a significant overhaul of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This initiative is part of President Donald Trump’s proposed “one big, beautiful bill,” which seeks to ensure that benefits like food stamps are reserved for American citizens and lawful permanent residents.

The House Agriculture Committee is taking steps to incorporate this proposal into their draft bill. This follows a request from Republican Illinois Rep. Mary Miller, who emphasized the need to prevent certain non-citizens from accessing these benefits.

“Taxpayer-funded benefits like SNAP are intended for Americans in need, not foreigners who break the law to enter this country,” Miller stated.

She further expressed gratitude towards her colleagues for supporting this reform, highlighting its potential to save taxpayers up to $8 billion over the next ten years.

House Agriculture Republicans have been tasked with making significant cuts, aiming to reduce at least $230 billion in programs under their jurisdiction over the next decade.

While federal law already restricts undocumented migrants from receiving SNAP benefits, there are exceptions for specific non-citizen groups. These include refugees, migrants granted asylum, and those whose deportations have been withheld, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The USDA reported that in the fiscal year 2023, approximately 42 million people, or over 12% of the U.S. population, received monthly SNAP benefits.

Over the years, federal spending on SNAP has seen a dramatic increase, rising from less than $20 billion in the 1990s to over $110 billion today, as noted by Republican Oklahoma Rep. Josh Brecheen.

In addition to the SNAP proposal, House Republicans on the Energy and Commerce (E&C) committee are targeting illegal migrants in their section of the president’s tax and spending package. Their bill proposes reducing federal Medicaid payments to states like New York and California that offer healthcare coverage to illegal migrants.

Under this proposal, states that continue to provide coverage to non-citizens would see a reduction in the federal government’s contribution to Medicaid expansion, dropping from 90% to 80%.

Earlier this year, President Trump issued an executive order to bar illegal migrants from accessing taxpayer-funded benefits, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to prioritizing American citizens in benefit programs.

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