The U.S. Department of Agriculture is preparing a broad reform effort aimed at reshaping spending within its nutrition programs and increasing support for American farmers, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said this week.
The initiative centers on redirecting money toward healthier, American-grown food options and improving the efficiency of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Rollins discussed the plans Wednesday during an appearance on “Mornings with Maria,” describing the existing SNAP framework as “out of control” and noting that the agency is evaluating how nutrition dollars are used across multiple programs.
She said the USDA intends to increase purchases of fruits, proteins, and specialty crops from American producers as part of the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative backed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“More coming on that early next year as we begin to shift how we’re buying food, and really supporting the American farmers,” Rollins said.
According to Rollins, the USDA oversees approximately “$400 million a day across 16 nutrition programs.”
She said strengthening the nutritional value of food purchased through these programs is a key priority, with an emphasis on reducing chronic disease and directing funds toward domestically grown products.
The department plans to expand the presence of American-grown fruits and specialty crops in school lunches and food banks as part of the shift.
The changes follow heightened attention on SNAP during the most recent government shutdown.
Funding for the program neared depletion, prompting questions about its long-term stability and oversight.
In response, the USDA has pledged to intensify fraud prevention measures and will require participants to reapply for benefits to ensure program integrity.
Rollins also said the department is working on a “bridge package” of financial support designed to help farmers manage economic pressures heading into the next planting and harvesting seasons.
She noted that she has held discussions with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and expects additional details to be released soon.
“It’s just a bridge to get us to next year for the president’s promise that he wasn’t [going to] leave any of our farmers behind,” Rollins said.
Farmers, she added, are experiencing significant strain as they plan their operations for the coming year.
The USDA is aiming to deliver certainty quickly, particularly for producers navigating tight credit conditions.
“For the farmers who are figuring out their planting and harvesting for next year, they need that certainty now as their banks are calling,” Rollins said.
“It’s been a really, really tough few years out in the farmland for our farmers,” she said.
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SNAP fraud and waste is monumental! The amount of NON-nutritious food is very prevalent and a major cause of health problems and medical costs (also taxpayer funded). I have a friend who works at grocery store and she is appalled and sickened by what she sees people buying with SNAP.
I also had a relative, now deceased, who claimed that he deserved to buy and eat whatever he wanted, the same as people not using SNAP. His whole family was overweight, diabetic and sickly due to their poor diets. Good food only would have reduced SNAP costs by well over 50%. NO pastries, candy, soft drinks, high sugar foods, chips, bottled water (cases where returned for cash deposit refunds, to buy cigarettes). One popular food bought with SNAP is Lobster at $15/lb.