House Republicans Urge Governor, Attorney General to Protect Vulnerable Delawareans’ Food Benefits

December 5, 2025

Delaware House Republicans today issued a statement urging Attorney General Kathy Jennings and Governor Matt Meyer to take immediate action to prevent the loss of vital federal food assistance on which many needy Delawareans rely.

Approximately 119,000 Delaware residents receive aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). About 1 out of 9 Delawareans depends on this monthly allotment to purchase essential food.

While state governments administer SNAP benefits, the federal government supplies the funding. To increase efficiency, reduce fraud, and maximize the reach of this $100 billion annual expenditure, officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which manages the program, asked states earlier this year to supply information on SNAP recipients.

The data being sought, such as home address, Social Security number, and immigration status, is not burdensome or unreasonable. Rather than cooperate, Delaware joined 20 other states in a lawsuit challenging the request.

The plaintiffs maintain that the USDA has motives beyond fiscal responsibility, but speaking at a cabinet meeting earlier this week, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins noted that data from the 29 states that have complied with the agency show that significant fraud and waste have been uncovered, including SNAP benefits being sent to 186,000 deceased Americans and another 500,000 recipients illegally getting multiple allocations.

The waste identified thus far through the USDA’s data analysis would save more than $1.54 billion annually—money that could be used to boost allocations to eligible recipients or provide other needed assistance.

Secretary Rollins said that as early as Monday, December 8th, states that refuse to provide the requested information will no longer receive SNAP benefits.

In Delaware, most SNAP recipients fall below the poverty line, and more than two-thirds of participants are families with children.

"These citizens are those least able to deal with an interruption in benefits," said House Republicans in their statement. "We respectfully recommend that Attorney General Jennings and Governor Meyer take immediate action to avoid this potential calamity. Delaware should prudently work with our federal partners, provide the requested data, and ensure that the food assistance on which so many of our people depend continues to flow to households in need."