WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved six new state waivers aimed at limiting unhealthy food purchases through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as part of the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced Wednesday that Hawai‘i, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee will implement revised SNAP food-purchase rules in 2026. The waivers redefine what qualifies as “food for purchase” and aim to shift benefits toward more nutritious options.
“President Trump has made it clear: we are restoring SNAP to its true purpose, which is nutrition,” Rollins said. “With these new waivers, we are empowering states to lead, protecting our children from the dangers of highly processed foods, and moving one step closer to the President’s promise to Make America Healthy Again.”
Kennedy praised governors for advancing changes he described as essential to reversing chronic disease trends. “We cannot continue a system that forces taxpayers to fund programs that make people sick and then pay a second time to treat the illnesses those very programs help create,” he said.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz stated that the actions embody a comprehensive government strategy to fight obesity and chronic disease.
Governors from the participating states welcomed the federal approvals.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe
“We are incredibly thankful for Secretary Rollins’ approval of our waiver,” said Governor Mike Kehoe. “Missouri is proud to partner with the Trump Administration on the Make America Healthy Again movement as we refocus SNAP to maximize nutritional health for families while also supporting the abundant agricultural output of our state.”
North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong
“By investing in healthier food purchases with SNAP, we are taking a proactive step toward becoming the healthiest state in the nation,” said Governor Armstrong. “This waiver will lead to better health outcomes and quality of life for North Dakotans who participate in SNAP.”
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster
“Thank you to President Trump and Secretary Rollins for approving our light-touch, common-sense approach to strengthen the SNAP program by promoting healthier outcomes for South Carolinians,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “By encouraging families to purchase healthy, nutritious food – and not junk food – we ensure federal taxpayer dollars are used to their maximum benefit and keep South Carolina at the forefront of the effort to Make America Healthy Again.”
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee
“The Trump Administration’s leadership to create innovative, responsible solutions that strengthen families and improve health outcomes will have a lasting impact on Tennesseans for generations to come,” said Governor Bill Lee. “I’m grateful to President Trump, Secretary Rollins, and Secretary Kennedy for quickly approving our SNAP waiver, and to our retailers and food producers for helping ensure nutritious food choices reach every community across our state.”
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin
“I want to thank Secretary Rollins and the entire Trump Administration for their work on our shared goal of modernizing SNAP to promote healthier eating and empower Virginians to lead healthier lives,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “We all recognize that better nutrition is a critical step to making Virginia the strongest she’s ever been.”
The newly approved waivers expand Secretary Rollins’ “Laboratories of Innovation” framework, which promotes state-led nutrition reforms. They follow earlier waivers granted to Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah, bringing the total number of participating states to 12. All new restrictions will be implemented in 2026.
