The budget reconciliation law, H.R. 1, enacted in July 2025, made harmful changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including expanding who is subject to a three-month time limit. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expected to publish a proposed rule codifying the changes to work requirements for time-limited SNAP recipients.
As students return to school, educators are focused on creating welcoming classrooms, building new relationships, and preparing students for a successful year of learning. Yet for many children, one of the biggest barriers to success has nothing to do with academics. Food insecurity threatens the health and well-being of millions of children every day, affecting their ability to focus, participate, and thrive in school. Fortunately, Back-to-school season gives teachers, counselors, and school leaders an opportunity to help ensure that every child begins the year with the most essential school supply: access to the nutrition they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
For more than 60 years, Head Start has supported young children during their most important phase of growth and development. For families with limited resources, Head Start is a trusted source of care, education, nutritious meals, and health services. Despite Head Start’s long history of bipartisan support, and demonstrated success, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has a proposed new rule that would fundamentally change the program. Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs, released on Aug. 7, 2026, would rescind and replace many current Head Start program requirements and standards, including several that promote child nutrition and healthy eating — even amid the current administration’s focus on nutrition (e.g. Make America Healthy Again).
Last month, FRAC published a blog explaining the new public charge rule, which takes effect on Sept. 18, 2026.
Additional federal guidance released on Aug. 18 by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides more information about how the rule will be applied. This update summarizes what the guidance clarifies and what advocates need to know now.
Earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins highlighted the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda and cited changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as evidence of federal leadership in nutrition and health. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) similarly describes its MAHA strategy as strengthening nutrition programs, expanding healthier choices, and supporting families. Yet that narrative omits a critical part of the story: Policies advanced alongside the MAHA agenda are making SNAP harder to access, administer, operate, and evaluate at precisely the moment families are struggling with high food costs and food insecurity.