October 07, 2026

Rep. Mike Levin Pushes Administration to Adopt Critical Reforms to Improve Access to SNAP Benefits for Veterans

Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) applauded a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report outlining recommendations to improve veterans’ access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In January 2024, Rep. Levin served as the Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity with Chair Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) and requested GAO to examine how states with reported high and low rates of food insecurity have targeted veterans in the state annual outreach plans. On October 1, 2026, GAO published the report, “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Federal Actions Needed to Help Veterans Access Benefits,” which highlights the importance of conducting veteran-specific SNAP outreach to increase awareness and use of food resources.

According to a 2023 RAND report, more than one million veterans faced food insecurity each year from 2015 to 2020. Eligible veterans can use SNAP benefits to access healthy foods, but they’re less likely to participate than non-veterans. In the report, GAO reviewed states’ efforts to target SNAP outreach to veterans and work with veterans’ organizations to help connect veterans to the program. GAO also examined state and federal efforts to improve the type of SNAP outreach conducted to veterans. The report makes four recommendations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to more effectively tackle veteran food insecurity.

“More than one million veterans face food insecurity in this country. That is one million too many. That is why, when I served as Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, I asked GAO to investigate how states and the federal government can better help veterans get the support they need. I am encouraged by the report’s findings on successful state outreach efforts, but I am deeply troubled that USDA has still not updated its website to inform veterans about new requirements that could result in them losing their benefits,” said Rep. Levin. “One of the many reasons I opposed H.R. 1 was because it eliminated the work requirement exemption for veterans and created additional barriers to accessing food assistance. I am also concerned that, following staffing cuts in 2025, USDA has failed to fill critical positions that support coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs on veteran hunger. That is unacceptable. USDA must take these findings seriously and act quickly to address the gaps identified by GAO. I plan to work with my colleagues to hold the Administration accountable for implementing GAO’s recommendations as quickly as possible and ensuring veterans can access the support they have earned.”

GAO made three recommendations to USDA and one to VA, including:

  1. The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure Food and Nutrition Administration’s (FNA) SNAP eligibility website includes up-to-date information about exceptions to the SNAP time limit.
  2. The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure FNA develops and disseminates additional SNAP outreach materials tailored to veterans, in collaboration with Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
  3. The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure a formal mechanism is in place to collaborate with VA on efforts to address veteran food insecurity. This could include reviewing the memorandum of agreement (MOA) and updating the agreement as needed.
  4. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should ensure a formal mechanism is in place to collaborate with VA on efforts to address veteran food insecurity. This could include reviewing the MOA and updating the agreement as needed.

Rep. Levin will continue working with the relevant federal agencies to ensure they implement GAO’s recommendations and address reducing barriers for veterans seeking access to SNAP.

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