Thousands Of Illinoisans Could Lose Food Stamps Under Trump Change

About 100,000 Illinoisans will lose food stamps under a rule change finalized by the Trump administration this week.

The rule change to the SNAP program, as food stamps are now called, takes effect in April. It  will make it harder for states to waive work and time limit requirements for able-bodied adults to receive assistance.

Melissa Young of the Chicago-based Heartland Alliance said the majority of those who will lose eligibility are working, but underemployed or facing barriers to getting a job.

“This rule will absolutely hit those who have historically been, and to continue to be marginalized, left out and denied opportunity,” said Young.

Meanwhile, an Illinois based policy analyst at the conservative Foundation for Government Accountability said the change will benefit both the economy and the individual.

USDA officials say the rule would save roughly $5.5 billion over five years and cut benefits for about 688,000 recipients. Congressional Democrats and advocates for the poor were quick to condemn the administration’s actions.

Reginald Hardwick

Reginald Hardwick is the News & Public Affairs Director at Illinois Public Media. He oversees daily newscasts and online stories. He also manages The 21st Show, a live, weekday talk show that airs on 7 NPR stations throughout Illinois. He is the executive producer of IPM's annual environmental TV special "State of Change." And he is the co-creator of Illinois Soul, IPM's Black-focused audio service that launched in February 2024. Before arriving at IPM in 2019, he served as News Director at WKAR in East Lansing and spent 17 years as a TV news producer and manager at KXAS, the NBC-owned station in Dallas/Fort Worth. Reginald is the recipient of three Edward R. Murrow regional awards, seven regional Emmy awards, and multiple honors from the National Association of Black Journalists. Born in Vietnam, Reginald grew up in Colorado and is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado. Email: rh14@illinois.edu Twitter: @RNewsWILL