USDA Watchdog Warns $100 Billion SNAP Program Fuels Terror Groups as House Cites $3 Billion Fraud
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 28
USDA Watchdog Warns $100 Billion SNAP Program Fuels Terror Groups as House Cites $3 Billion Fraud
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 28
Summary
USDA Inspector General John Walk told a House oversight panel that SNAP fraud has sent proceeds to people linked to terrorist groups, foreign adversaries and transnational criminal organizations.
Walk said criminals are exploiting the roughly $100 billion food-aid program through EBT card skimming, trafficking and identity fraud, often draining benefits from legitimate recipients before they can buy food.
A Southern California case cited at the hearing allegedly swapped SNAP benefits for cash and crack cocaine, with gang members then using the proceeds to buy firearms.
Republicans said USDA data has already flagged about $3 billion in potential fraud, including benefits tied to 186,000 deceased people and 442,000 fraudulent Social Security numbers, while 21 states have withheld requested data.
Democrats and anti-hunger advocates said organized theft is real but warned lawmakers not to conflate payment errors with fraud or use the crackdown to justify cuts for eligible recipients.