ICYMI Video: Blumenthal Questions Trump Administration Nominee on Unnecessary, Wasteful SNAP Reapplication Plan

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) pressed John Walk, nominee to be Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on the Trump Administration’s plans to have every recipient of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reapply for benefits as a “fraud prevention measure.” States are already required to reconfirm eligibility every 6-12 months. This costly move would simply add unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles for hardworking families to access food assistance. As the Trump Administration continues to attack SNAP and attempts to kick eligible recipients off the highly effective and successful program reducing hunger, Walk confirmed that there is no legal requirement forcing recipients to reapply for SNAP benefits.

“Mr. Walk, we were talking, or you were talking to the Chairman about the SNAP program. And we understand, or we’ve heard, that the Secretary of Agriculture has said that there has to be reapplication on the part of all current SNAP recipients now. There is no legal requirement that all of the current SNAP beneficiaries reapply as though they hadn’t been receiving SNAP benefits, is there?” questioned Blumenthal.

“Sir, my understanding is that there is a requirement for recertification but in terms of taking folks off unless they reapply, I do not know that there is a requirement for that,” answered Walk.

“There is none, correct?” pressed Blumenthal.

“Not that I am aware of,” Walk confirmed.

Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” reduced funding for SNAP by $186 billion—a 20 percent cut and the largest reduction in the history of the program. The bill also imposed strict work requirements that will disproportionally impact vulnerable participants like seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, individuals experiencing homelessness and more without improving employment outcomes. Millions of recipients are expected to lose their benefits or see reduced benefits because of these changes. The Trump Administration’s plans to have recipients reapply for benefits is the latest attempt to prevent people from accessing critical SNAP benefits.

A video of Blumenthal’s exchange with Walk can be found here, and a transcript is below.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome to the Committee, and welcome to your families, and thank you for your willing to serve our country. As Inspectors Generals of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, you play a critical role in ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of our government. Mr. Walk, we were talking, or you were talking to the Chairman about the SNAP program. And we understand, or we’ve heard, that the Secretary of Agriculture has said that there has to be reapplication on the part of all current SNAP recipients now. Is that your understanding?

John Walk: Sir, I have only read that in the news in the same way. I have not had any conversations with the Secretary.

Blumenthal: But you’re a senior advisor to her, correct?

Walk: That’s right, right.

Blumenthal: And you haven’t heard anything about it?

Walk: I generally would say I know what has been reported, and I understand that to be accurate.

Blumenthal: There is no legal requirement that all of the current SNAP beneficiaries reapply as though they hadn’t been receiving SNAP benefits, is there?

Walk: Sir, my understanding is that there is a requirement for recertification but in terms of taking folks off unless they reapply, I do not know that there is a requirement for that.

Blumenthal: There is none, correct?

Walk: Not that I am aware of.

Blumenthal: Okay, and the recertification is different from the application process, correct?

Walk: It is.

Blumenthal: Recertification is done periodically every six months depending on what the state decides is appropriate?

Walk: Yes.

Blumenthal: Will you commit that you will make sure that all of the 42 million current SNAP recipients and beneficiaries receive these benefits if they are entitled to do so under current law and that the approval process is done expeditiously and timely so that they get those benefits as they need them to put food on the table?

Walk: Senator, thank you for the question. And as I said, I did spend four months at FNCS, and one of the initiatives I took on in that short time was to send the governors a letter that we expected timeliness in terms of the 30 days/seven-day period of completing the approval process for the applications. So that is an important issue to me even on that side. Of course, as an IG, my role would not be to be in the policy role. But as IG I would practice –

Blumenthal: If there are delays, it would be your responsibility to assure that the approvals are done in a timely and important way because people depend on the SNAP benefits literally to feed their children, correct?

Walk: Senator, I agree the IG should continue to practice effective oversight over the SNAP application process.

Blumenthal: And if I come to you as a member of the Senate, and I say the information available to me is that there are delays and bureaucratic hangups, you would look into it, correct?

Walk: Senator, that is correct. As IG, I need to keep Congress fully and currently informed.

Blumenthal: Well, I’m going to hold you to that commitment.

-30-