A federal judge rules the U.S. Department of Agriculture cannot approve state waivers that restrict what people can buy with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for certain sugary foods and drinks. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson blocked the USDA from allowing restrictions in five states—Colorado, Iowa, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Nebraska—following a lawsuit filed by five SNAP recipients. The states had sought USDA approval between April and August 2025 to run pilot projects that would waive the federal definition of “food” and exclude items such as soda and sugary foods from SNAP eligibility.
In the ruling, the judge says Congress defined what counts as “food” for SNAP and did not authorize USDA to amend or waive that definition. The judge also notes that efforts to encourage healthier choices must be done through lawful steps rather than by bypassing statutory limits. The USDA previously approved similar waivers in other states and says it will continue pursuing restrictions. Supporters of the policy, including officials involved in the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, have argued that taxpayer-funded benefits should not be used for “junk food.”
