Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's SNAP Restrictions on Candy and Sugary Drinks

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson blocked a Trump administration policy allowing states to restrict SNAP recipients from purchasing soda, candy, and sugary drinks, ruling the USDA exceeded its authority. The June 22, 2026, decision sided with plaintiffs from five states, though Louisiana's active restrictions remain unaffected. This legal setback occurs alongside a 10% nationwide drop in SNAP enrollment following the July 2025 passage of the 'Big Beautiful Bill' which cut food aid funding.

Federal court SNAP ruling

• ▪U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson blocked the Trump administration's effort to let states restrict SNAP recipients from purchasing soda, candy, and sugary drinks
• ▪U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson's June 22, 2026, ruling sided with SNAP recipients from Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia
• ▪Louisiana implemented SNAP restrictions on February 18, 2026, but Louisiana was not among the five states where the restrictions were blocked

State waiver requests

• ▪States seeking SNAP purchase restrictions requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture approve alternative definitions of what qualifies as food
• ▪The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved SNAP "food restriction" waivers in 23 states as part of the administration's "Make America Healthy Again" initiative

USDA legal authority limits

• ▪U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson stated that improving nutrition is not a legally authorized reason for the federal government to grant SNAP waivers to states
• ▪Federal law defines SNAP-eligible items as any food or food product for home consumption, excluding alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and hot foods ready for immediate consumption
• ▪U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture exceeded its legal authority by approving waivers that conflict with the congressional definition of food

SNAP participation decline

• ▪Nationwide SNAP enrollment declined by more than 4 million people, approximately 10%, between July 2025 and March 2026
• ▪Louisiana experienced a 16% decline in SNAP participation between July 2025 and March 2026

Big Beautiful Bill changes

• ▪President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," enacted on July 4, 2025, reduced federal spending on food assistance programs
• ▪The "Big Beautiful Bill" expanded work requirements and eliminated SNAP eligibility for some recipients based on immigration status