Media Contact:
Jordan Baker
jbaker@frac.org
980-290-7282
Statement attributable to Crystal FitzSimons, president, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2026 — The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) supports the National Center for Law and Economic Justice’s lawsuit issued today against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to stop Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) waivers that restrict what families and individuals can purchase with their food benefits. We commend these organizations for taking legal action to protect the dignity of the tens of millions of people who rely on SNAP to put food on the table. We also recognize the courage of the individual plaintiffs who stepped forward to challenge these policies. Their willingness to share their experiences underscores the real-life consequences these restrictions have on limited food choices, increasing stigma, and making it harder for families to meet their basic needs.
FRAC is proud to have served as an early voice raising concerns about the far-reaching harm of these restriction waivers, raising the issue with our partners and supporting outreach to ensure those most affected are heard loud and clear.
These waivers are harmful, and are rooted in stereotypes and misinformation, and further stigmatize our neighbors who receive food assistance. Evidence does not support the assertion that setting nutrition standards for eligible SNAP purchases will improve diet quality or health, according to a commentary in the American Journal of Public Health. In fact, participation in SNAP has been shown to improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs.
SNAP restrictions also reduce autonomy and means fewer choices for the 41 million people who participate in the program. For states, restrictions add expensive new layers of bureaucracy when they are already burdened by the budget reconciliation law (H.R. 1), which requires states to cover 75 percent of administrative costs. Retailers, especially small and rural grocers, also suffer as they bear significant costs from implementing these restrictions. The most significant burdens come from technology upgrade and compliance monitoring. Given the industry’s slim margins, many retailers will be forced to raise prices, cut back on SNAP participation, or shut down completely.
Restricting choice is not the answer. If we want it to have an even greater impact on health and well-being, we should increase SNAP benefits, which are on average just $6 per person per day, and invest in prove