UPDATE: On January 31, 2019, the Trump Administration posted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for a rule that would take food away from more than 750,000 struggling workers. Once it is officially published on February 1, the rule is open for 60 days of public comments. Therefore, all those opposing this harmful rule should submit their comments before the deadline. Stay tuned for more information from CLASP.

This statement can be attributed to Olivia Golden, executive director of the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP).

Washington, DC, December 20, 2018—Today, President Trump is expected to sign the bipartisan 2018 farm bill, which protects access to food assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for more than 40 million people. Unfortunately, today his administration also announced a proposed rule that would undercut this anti-hunger protection for people who can’t find jobs that provide enough hours to qualify for SNAP.

This proposed rule would take away state flexibility to ensure continued access to food assistance for unemployed and underemployed adults in areas of high unemployment. Governors of both parties have long used this flexibility to respond to state and local needs. The farm bill, which passed with overwhelming margins in Congress, specifically chose to preserve this flexibility for states. In sharp contrast, the administration is putting forward this proposal that by its own estimates will take nutrition benefits away from over 750,000 people.

Once this proposal is officially published in the Federal Register, it will be open for public comment for 60 days. Together we have the power to disrupt and stop the Trump Administration’s latest attack on families already struggling to make ends meet. Under federal law, the Food and Nutrition Service is required to take into consideration all comments before issuing a final rule. Just as hundreds of thousands of people submitted comments opposing the recent public charge rule that would harm immigrants and their families, now is the time to speak up once again in support of access to basic needs for all families.