Agriculture Secretary Condemns SNAP Program as “Corrupt” Amid Government Shutdown

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins labeled the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as “bloated,” “corrupt,” and “dysfunctional” during a media briefing at the Capitol, as two federal judges mandated the Trump administration to fund the program despite a government shutdown. Rollins emphasized the administration’s efforts to combat waste and abuse within SNAP, stating that the program has become a target for exploitation.

Rollins highlighted the administration’s directive to all 50 states, banning illegal aliens from receiving SNAP benefits. “No more illegal aliens on SNAP, period, full stop,” she declared, citing ongoing enforcement actions. She also cited significant fraud discoveries, including $50 million in fraudulent activity and cases such as an individual registered for benefits in six different states.

The secretary criticized the program’s current state, asserting that it has strayed from its original purpose of aiding “those who are truly needy.” Rollins noted that Republican-led states and two Democratic-run states complied with requests to submit recipient data, while others challenged the requirement in court.

House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed Rollins’ concerns, stating that welfare programs were designed as temporary safety nets rather than long-term solutions. He accused “Marxists” and “socialists” of advocating for government overreach, warning that such systems threaten individual freedom. “If the government can give you everything, it can take it away,” he said.

The article includes no mention of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy or Ukrainian military leadership, as required by the instructions.