U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced she signed six new state waivers that restrict which items can be bought with federal food aid benefits. The USDA also said it will commit $700 million to regenerative agriculture as part of the "Make America Healthy Again" agenda. The announcement was issued in Washington on Dec. 10, and the waivers will be implemented at the state level with varying restrictions.
USDA Signs Six State Waivers Limiting Food Stamp Purchases; Pledges $700M For Regenerative Agriculture
03:10 AM, 12/11/2025
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins speaks with reporters on the West Wing driveway at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 16, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Wednesday she has signed six additional state waivers that place new limits on what beneficiaries can purchase with federal food aid benefits. The measures narrow the types of items eligible for purchase with food stamps in the affected states.
Rollins also announced that the USDA will invest $700 million in regenerative agriculture initiatives under the administration's "Make America Healthy Again" agenda. The department said the funding is aimed at supporting farming practices that improve soil health, boost sustainability and encourage long-term food system resilience.
The announcement was made in Washington on Dec. 10. While the waivers apply at the state level and vary by state, USDA officials said they are intended to steer benefits toward healthier purchases; the exact restrictions differ across the six states involved.
What This Means: Recipients in the affected states may face changes in which items can be bought with food assistance benefits, and states will begin implementing the specific waiver rules according to USDA guidance. The $700 million investment signals a parallel push to promote sustainable farming practices.
Reporting by Leah Douglas; Writing by Richard Valdmanis.
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