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Resource | Policy Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA); Interpretation of “Federal Public Benefit”

This notice sets forth the interpretation that the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses for the term “Federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. In doing so, this notice supersedes any prior interpretation in any notice or other document issued by any USDA agency. This notice also describes and preliminarily identifies the USDA programs that provide “Federal public benefits” within the scope of PRWORA.

07/10/2025
Resource | Policy TEFAP - Availability of Foods for Fiscal Year 2025

This notice announces the surplus and purchased foods that the Department expects to make available for donation to states for use in providing nutrition assistance to the needy under The Emergency Food Assistance Program in fiscal year 2025.

04/28/2025
Resource | Policy Final Rule Correction - Food Distribution Programs: Improving Access and Parity

The Food and Nutrition Service is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on Oct. 31, 2024. 

12/23/2024
Resource | Policy Final Rule - Food Distribution Programs

This final rule revises regulations for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and USDA Foods disaster response regulations. This final rule makes improvements in USDA’s food distribution programs.

10/31/2024
Resource | Federal Register Notices Proposed Rule: Improving Access and Parity in Food Distribution Programs

FNS is proposing to amend its regulations to make access and parity improvements within several food distribution programs, including the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, The Emergency Food Assistance Program, and USDA Foods disaster response. The proposed provisions use plain language to make them easier to read and understand.

09/07/2023
Resource | Policy TEFAP: Availability of Foods for FY 2021

This notice announces the surplus and purchased foods that the Department expects to make available for donation to states for use in providing nutrition assistance to the needy under TEFAP in FY 2021. The foods made available under this notice must, at the discretion of the state, be distributed to eligible recipient agencies for use in preparing meals and/or for distribution to households for home consumption.

01/15/2021
Resource | Final Rule Final Rule: TEFAP Implementation of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018

Through this rulemaking,  FNS is codifying new statutory requirements included in the 2018 Farm Bill.

10/04/2019
Resource | Proposed Rule Proposed Rule: Revisions and Clarifications in Requirements for the Processing of Donated Foods

This rule proposes to revise and clarify requirements for the processing of donated foods in order to: Incorporate successful processing options tested in demonstration projects, ensure accountability for donated foods provided for processing, and increase program efficiency.

01/05/2017
Resource | Final Rule Final Rule: Requirements for the Distribution and Control of Donated Foods & TEFAP: Implementation of the Agricultural Act of 2014

This rule revises and clarifies requirements to ensure that USDA donated foods are distributed, stored, and managed in the safest, most efficient, and cost-effective manner, at state and recipient agency levels. The rule also reduces administrative and reporting requirements for state distributing agencies, revises or clarifies regulatory provisions relating to accountability for donated foods, and rewrites much of the regulations in a more user-friendly, plain language, format.

04/19/2016
Resource | Proposed Rule Proposed Rule: SNAP Promotion

This proposed rule would implement Section 4018 of the Agricultural Act of 2014.  Section 4018 created new limitations on the use of federal funds authorized in the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program promotion and outreach activities.  

03/14/2016
Page updated: October 14, 2021