WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) urged House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson to reconsider an adjustment proposal to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To adhere to the reconciliation budget instructions agreed to by the House and Senate, the House Agriculture Committee proposed shifting a blanket 25% of SNAP costs on state governments.
Congressman Van Orden proposed an alternative that would tie each state’s cost-sharing responsibility to its SNAP error rate. For instance, Wisconsin had a 4.74% overpayment error rate in 2023, so the state would be responsible for 4.74% of the cost.
In addition to the letter, Rep. Van Orden signed on to a resolution that would prevent budget reconciliation from cutting Medicaid and SNAP benefits for the most vulnerable populations.
“I write today in strong opposition to the reckless proposals under consideration that would impose up to 25% of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) costs on state governments,” Rep. Van Orden states in the letter. “However, any solution must avoid placing disproportionate burdens on rural states, where food insecurity is often more widespread. These communities are already underserved – we cannot place the financial responsibility on the backs of some of our most vulnerable populations, including hungry children. Period.”
The Congressman continues, “Rather than threatening the benefits of those who rightfully receive SNAP, we should focus efforts on correcting inefficiencies. In FY2023, the national SNAP overpayment error rate was 10.03%, resulting in an estimated $13 billion in improperly issued benefits. This is where our attention should be.”
To read the full letter, click here or scroll below.
April 30, 2025
The Honorable Glenn “GT” Thompson
House Agriculture Committee
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Thompson,
I write today in strong opposition to the reckless proposals under consideration that would impose up to 25% of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) costs on state governments.
As you know, SNAP is currently funded entirely by the federal government, while state agencies are responsible for administering the program, including determining eligibility and distributing benefits. I fully support holding states accountable and agree that we must aggressively address the overpayments, fraud, waste, and abuse that undermine the program’s integrity.
However, any solution must avoid placing disproportionate burdens on rural states, where food insecurity is often more widespread. These communities are already underserved—we cannot place the financial responsibility on the backs of some of our most vulnerable populations, including hungry children. Period.
Rather than threatening the benefits of those who rightfully receive SNAP, we should focus efforts on correcting inefficiencies. In FY2023, the national SNAP overpayment error rate was 10.03%, resulting in an estimated $13 billion in improperly issued benefits. This is where our attention should be.
I propose an alternative to a blanket 25% cost shift: tie each state’s cost-sharing responsibility to its SNAP error rate. For instance, Wisconsin had a 4.74% overpayment error rate in 2023, so the state would be responsible for 4.74% of the cost—not a penny more. It is fair, proportional, and incentivizes good program management by holding states that have run the program with large error directly accountable for their mishandling of funds without a bailout from the states who have responsibly administered program benefits.
We can fix what is broken without punishing those who need this program most.
Sincerely,
Derrick Van Orden
Member of Congress
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