Washington, D.C., Dec. 15, 2025 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins published an opinion piece in The Hill highlighting the ways USDA is partnering with Governors to strengthen integrity and restore nutritional value within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“At the direction of President Trump, the Department of Agriculture is empowering states with unprecedented flexibility to manage their nutrition programs. This is a bipartisan commitment from red and blue states alike, and SNAP is finally being steered back toward its intended purpose: getting wholesome foods on the plates of America’s most vulnerable,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “Last Wednesday, I was proud to sign waivers for six states that have decided to strengthen integrity and restore nutritional value within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These states follow in the wake of 12 others that were approved for similar waivers earlier this year.”

Read the full piece below.

Last week was another exciting week for the historic partnership between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services, and, most importantly, for America’s families.

Last Wednesday I was proud to sign waivers for six states that have decided to strengthen integrity and restore nutritional value within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Hawai’i, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia are now approved to implement restrictions on the purchase of junk food and sweetened beverages with SNAP benefits — a long overdue reform that ensures taxpayer dollars provide nutritious options to Americans in need.

These states follow in the wake of 12 othersthat were approved for similar waivers earlier this year. At the direction of President Trump, the Department of Agriculture is empowering states with unprecedented flexibility to manage their nutrition programs.

This is a bipartisan commitment from red and blue states alike. The chronic disease epidemic does not respect partisan boundaries, and never before has it presented such an enormous threat to our national welfare.

The urgency of the crisis is abundantly clear. Just consider what America’s youth are up against.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 40 percent of the roughly 73 million children (aged 0–17) in the United States have at least one chronic health condition, and over 350,000 American children have been diagnosed with diabetes.

These troubling statistics represent a threat not just to those personally suffering from the health crisis but to U.S. national security. More than 75 percentof American youth (aged 17–24) are ineligible for military service — primarily due to obesity, poor physical fitness, and/or mental health challenges.

Rising rates of childhood chronic disease are likely being driven by a combination of factors. However, according to the Department of Agriculture’s most recent data, 15.6 million children are recipients of the SNAP program — accounting for about 39 percent of all SNAP participants — so improving this program is a terrific place to start.

For too long, sugary drinks were the No. 1 item purchased with SNAP benefits. Not vegetables, not fruit, but soda. The Trump administration is partnering with governors from across the country to remedy that and improve health outcomes.

These governors understand that states should be laboratories of innovation, and I hope to see more states not only explore healthy opportunities for families, but look at other programmatic options that reduce fraud, emphasize work, and preserve the program for those most in need.

As President Ronald Reaganonce said, “All great change in America begins at the dinner table.”

He was absolutely correct.

That’s why SNAP is finally being steered back toward its intended purpose: getting wholesome foods on the plates of America’s most vulnerable.

Once again, President Trump is delivering on his promise to Make America Healthy Again, one dinner table at a time.

Brooke L. Rollins is the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

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Washington, D.C., Dec. 10, 2025 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, joined by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., today announced the approval of six new state SNAP food-choice waivers under the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative. The waivers, submitted by Hawai‘i, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, will amend the statutory definition of “food for purchase” under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beginning in 2026.

“President Trump has made it clear: we are restoring SNAP to its true purpose – nutrition. Under the MAHA initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic diseases epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long,” said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “America’s governors are answering that call with courage and innovation, offering solutions that honor the generosity of the taxpayer while helping families live longer, healthier lives. With these new waivers, we are empowering states to lead, protecting our children from the dangers of highly-processed foods, and moving one step closer to the President’s promise to Make America Healthy Again.”

“Thank you to the 18 governors who are leading the charge on SNAP reform to restore the health of Americans—especially our kids. Their courageous leadership is exactly what we need to Make America Healthy Again,” said HHS Secretary Kennedy. “We cannot continue a system that forces taxpayers to fund programs that make people sick and then pay a second time to treat the illnesses those very programs help create.”

“This administration is taking a whole-of-government approach in our battle against obesity and chronic disease. By partnering with states on meaningful initiatives, such as today’s SNAP waivers, we answer President Trump’s call to Make America Health Again,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “I applaud Secretary Rollins, Secretary Kennedy, and the partnering governors for their bold actions to improve Americans’ health and wellbeing.”

Governor Statements

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe
“We are incredibly thankful for Secretary Rollins’ approval of our waiver,” said Governor Mike Kehoe. “Missouri is proud to partner with the Trump administration on the Make America Healthy Again movement as we refocus SNAP to maximize nutritional health for families while also supporting the abundant agricultural output of our state.”

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong
“By investing in healthier food purchases with SNAP, we are taking a proactive step toward becoming the healthiest state in the nation,” said Governor Armstrong. “This waiver will lead to better health outcomes and quality of life for North Dakotans who participate in SNAP.”

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster
“Thank you to President Trump and Secretary Rollins for approving our light-touch, common-sense approach to strengthen the SNAP program by promoting healthier outcomes for South Carolinians,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “By encouraging families to purchase healthy, nutritious food – and not junk food – we ensure federal taxpayer dollars are used to their maximum benefit and keep South Carolina at the forefront of the effort to Make America Healthy Again.”

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee
“The Trump Administration's leadership to create innovative, responsible solutions that strengthen families and improve health outcomes will have a lasting impact on Tennesseans for generations to come,” said Governor Bill Lee. “I’m grateful to President Trump, Secretary Rollins, and Secretary Kennedy for quickly approving our SNAP waiver, and to our retailers and food producers for helping ensure nutritious food choices reach every community across our state.”

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin
“These actions build on Secretary Rollins’ “Laboratories of Innovation” initiative, announced on her first day in office, which invites governors to propose state-driven solutions to strengthen federal nutrition programs and protect taxpayer resources,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Today’s approvals follow previously amended waivers in Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah, marking 12 states that have now partnered with USDA and HHS to strengthen SNAP’s nutritional integrity. Each waiver tailors excluded items based on state submissions and will go into effect in 2026.”

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