The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday published a proposed rule that would tighten automatic eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with the agency estimating that about 6.3 million people would lose food aid^1,2,4.

The proposal would limit SNAP categorical eligibility to households that receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance as defined in federal TANF rules, rather than also covering households that receive non-cash or in-kind TANF-funded services^3,4.

USDA said the revisions would target SNAP to needy households that have qualified for TANF assistance while still simplifying administration^1,4. The rule text said the change would make eligibility more standardized and preserve benefits for the truly needy^2,3.

SNAP generally requires household income below 130 percent of the federal poverty level; TANF rules vary by state and can reach about 200 percent of that level, which currently can confer automatic SNAP eligibility^1,2.

An agency analysis in the proposal estimates nearly 18 percent of SNAP recipients would lose benefits, about 6.3 million people, or 3.2 million households in fiscal 2029, the first year USDA said the rule would reach full effect^2,4. Gray News, carried by Alaska's News Source, reported USDA estimated $44.6 billion in savings from 2027 through 2031³.

Because SNAP enrollment also opens other aid, USDA estimated 1.8 million children would lose eligibility for free school lunches^1,2,3. More than 36 million people are enrolled in SNAP; Al Jazeera cited average benefits of about $190 a person and $356 a household a month^1,2.

More than 5.5 million people have already lost SNAP benefits since cuts in the July 2025 tax law, CNBC and Al Jazeera reported, citing expanded work rules, immigrant eligibility changes, and state administrative costs^1,2.

Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, said the proposed rule would make it harder to meet basic needs and roll back efforts to streamline federal programs^1,2. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., called the plan despicable in a social media post, according to Al Jazeera¹.

Written comments are due within 30 days of Federal Register publication^1,2,4. Reuters and The New York Times also reported the proposal; this filing could not retrieve their full articles. Identical Gray copy ran on many local stations and is treated as one outlet³.