Fast Food Chains Tap into SNAP Funds
WASHINGTON — It’s quite the situation.
Fast food chains, particularly in California, have raked in over $524 million in taxpayer money through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the last three years, according to estimates from a group of lawmakers.
While SNAP usually focuses on home food and beverage use for low-income families, its Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) has seen some changes. Since around 2019, this program has been expanded in many states, allowing participants to dine at popular chains like Subway, McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC, and Dairy Queen.
“SNAP is designed to provide nutritious options for families in need, but there’s this loophole sending $500 million towards fast food—burgers and fries instead of healthy meals,” remarked Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who is leading an eight-member group calling on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to reevaluate the RMP.
“We’re not fans of these fast food banquets, so we’re coordinating with the Trump administration to include healthier choices,” she noted.
“The ‘N’ in SNAP stands for ‘nutrition,’ not nuggets, after all.”
The group is pushing HHS and USDA to consider if there’s a need for stricter guidelines to promote healthier dining options.
“Originally, the program accommodated individuals unable to store or cook food, but now it’s largely taken over by major fast-food chains,” Republican lawmakers stated in a letter to Kennedy and Rollins last Thursday.
“As USDA and HHS work towards tackling diet-related chronic illnesses through the MAHA initiative, it might be worth examining if the existing RMP setup aligns with those aims.”
Currently, nine states participate in the SNAP restaurant program: New York, California, Arizona, Michigan, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Illinois, Virginia, and Maryland.
California alone accounted for a significant portion of this spending, with $475 million from June 2023 to May 2025. Arizona followed with $41.4 million, and New York contributed $3.6 million.
Participation in the program has fluctuated over the years. In 2003, 19 states were involved, but by 2018, this number dwindled to just four, according to lawmakers.
However, since 2019, California has broadened its restaurant eligibility from just a few counties to statewide, with over 5,800 participating restaurants.
Other states have also joined the RMP, contributing to a boost in their restaurant industries.
The RMP has its origins in the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977. This law allowed individuals lacking proper food storage or cooking facilities to receive assistance for meals, though it wasn’t referred to as the RMP at that time.
Ernst’s letter was supported by several senators from various states, highlighting a collective concern over the program’s direction.
A USDA representative stated that the department is “firmly dedicated to conducting thorough integrity reviews across all USDA programs that assist our country’s most vulnerable communities.”
