Six more states are joining the growing list of states signing waivers to ban using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for “non-nutritious items.” Last week, USDA Secretary Brooke ...

Erika D. Smith is a politics and policy columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. She is a former Los Angeles Times columnist and Sacramento Bee editorial board member. During this fall’s government shutdown, ...

Louisiana will restrict the use of SNAP benefits for certain food items starting February 18, 2026. The new rules prohibit using SNAP funds to buy soft drinks, energy drinks, candy, gum, and mints.

During this fall’s government shutdown, when food banks faced lines circling the block, President Donald Trump didn’t seem to understand that he’d become the face of his administration’s refusal to ...