Trump administration claims food aid fraud but critics say ‘there’s no evidence’
The Trump administration, through Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, claimed that 14,000 SNAP recipients own luxury vehicles like Ferraris and Teslas, though no evidence or data source was provided. Critics, including lawmakers and researchers, dismissed the claim as unsubstantiated and part of a broader effort to undermine the food aid program. They emphasized that SNAP serves millions of low-income Americans and that isolated cases of fraud should not justify broad cuts to the program.
- ▪Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins claimed 14,000 SNAP recipients own luxury cars, without providing evidence or naming the data source.
- ▪The claim originated from an analysis by the Foundation for Government Accountability, which did not release its data or methodology.
- ▪Congresswoman Jahana Hayes and researchers criticized the claim, noting that 73% of SNAP recipients live at or below the federal poverty level.
- ▪In 2023, 42.1 million Americans received SNAP benefits, while 36.8 million lived below the federal poverty line.
- ▪The USDA reported that 67% of U.S. counties did not provide SNAP benefits to all eligible residents living under the federal poverty level in 2024.
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Snap benefits advertised in the window of a store. Photograph: Boston Globe/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenSnap benefits advertised in the window of a store. Photograph: Boston Globe/Getty ImagesTrump administrationTrump administration claims food aid fraud but critics say ‘there’s no evidence’Agriculture secretary claims without evidence Snap recipients included owners of luxury cars Michael SainatoMon 4 May 2026 07.00 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe Trump administration’s attack on the 87-year-old food aid program that supports tens of millions of low-income Americans escalated last week as the agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, claimed that 14,000 Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (Snap) recipients included owners of luxury vehicles such as Ferraris,…
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