Politics

After Millions in Stolen SNAP Benefits, Trump Administration Moves to Fight Theft

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 23/10/2026, 20:24:25 UTC.

Briefings

The Trump administration announced a mandate for all 50 states to upgrade their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards from magnetic stripe to digital microchip technology to prevent SNAP benefit theft. This follows a ProPublica investigation revealing $470 million in benefits stolen annually due to outdated systems. The proposed rule, finalized by the USDA on October 23, 2026, requires states to transition within 60 days, with a two-year implementation window. The estimated cost is $283 million, though federal funding remains uncertain due to budget cuts. Vice President JD Vance highlighted the issue during a campaign event, contrasting with past rhetoric about fraudsters.

Key points

• The Trump administration mandated that all 50 states adopt digital microchip technology on EBT cards to prevent electronic theft of SNAP benefits.
• ProPublica reported $470 million in benefits were stolen last year due to the use of magnetic stripe cards, prompting the USDA to issue a new rule requiring chip upgrades.

Context

The USDA's Food and Nutrition Administration finalized a rule on October 23, 2026, requiring all 50 states to transition from magnetic stripe EBT cards to digital microchip technology. This follows a ProPublica investigation revealing $470 million in benefits stolen annually due to outdated systems. The rule was delayed until now due to understaffing and regulatory backlogs, with states having 60 days to submit comments before the two-year transition period begins.

Limitations

Federal funding for the chip card transition remains uncertain due to budget cuts, with no immediate confirmation from Congress. The mandate applies to all 50 states, but implementation speed depends on state budget constraints and the ability to meet the two-year deadline. Some states have already adopted chips, but over 40 states remain without them, and hundreds of thousands of low-income Americans continue to face theft.

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