Newsroom

Secretary Tom Vilsack announced major steps to promote the health of America’s children through school meals. Nutrition standards for school meals will be gradually updated to include less sugar and flexibility with menu planning between Fall 2025 and Fall 2027. The Department arrived at these changes after listening closely to public feedback and considering the latest science-based recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 

Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a letter to 47 governors conveying concerns about how challenges in state administration of SNAP are affecting American families. The letter underlines the urgency of the situation and encourages immediate state actions to improve. 

USDA is marking the end of 2023 by highlighting on-the-ground projects and partnerships that are building economic prosperity for farmers, families, and communities nationwide. 

USDA today announced an investment of more than $52 million to improve dietary health and access to fresh fruits and vegetables for eligible families.

The Food and Nutrition Service announced today that SNAP, households will have added protection from stolen benefits through Sept. 30, 2024, as the agency officially approved all SNAP state agencies’ plans for replacing benefits stolen via card skimming, card cloning and other similar crimes. This is a vital and necessary step in ensuring victims of fraudulent activities continue to have access to food.

Today, USDA released the Household Food Security in the United States in 2022 report, which examined American households’ ability to access sufficient food last year. 

FNS is announcing a series of recent actions designed to elevate program integrity and usher in a new era of modernization for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of FNS awarded the District of Columbia Department of Human Services $904,859 to enhance efficiency and access in SNAP.

The Western Regional Office of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service awarded the County of Monterey Department of Social Services in California $858,348  to enhance efficiency and access in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP.

The Mountain Plains Regional Office of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service  awarded the Kansas Department for Children and Families $706,550 to enhance efficiency and access in SNAP.

The Southeast Regional Office of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service awarded the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services $673,775  to enhance efficiency and access in SNAP.

The Southeast Regional Office of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service awarded the South Carolina Department of Social Services $1,006,468 to enhance efficiency and access in SNAP.

The Midwest Regional Office of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service awarded Ohio Department of Job and Family Services $850,000 to enhance efficiency and access in SNAP.

USDA announced that low-income Florida residents in 11 counties (Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Suwanee, and Taylor) recovering from Hurricane Idalia beginning Aug. 30, 2023, could be eligible for a helping hand from the USDA’s D-SNAP.