Tension with USDA Ignited by RFK Jr.'s Food Stamp Proposal
The Health secretary's initiative to implement state-level restrictions is causing frustration among certain Agriculture officials, who view it as an overstep of authority.
TroibNews 
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s initiative to swiftly prohibit the use of food stamps for purchasing soda is creating tensions between his team and the Agriculture Department, according to four individuals familiar with the situation, both inside and outside the government.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services is seeking approval from the Trump administration for state petitions to ban soda from the program for the first time. However, this program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is managed by the USDA, which the secretary does not oversee.
Aides to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins concur with Kennedy’s stance that federal aid should not fund products they attribute to rising obesity and other chronic health issues. However, they have raised concerns about the feasibility of Kennedy's rapid approach and expressed frustration over what they see as his encroachment into their jurisdiction.
This behind-the-scenes tension marks an initial conflict in the fragile collaboration between Kennedy and Rollins, which is aimed at fulfilling the Trump administration’s commitments to improving the health of Americans through its “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
“Rollins and Kennedy, they’ve both talked about this issue,” said one USDA staffer. “However, [HHS] is flying solo. It just doesn’t help to find a joint pathway forward.”
In recent weeks, Kennedy’s aides have encouraged governors and state lawmakers to file requests to limit soda purchases in the program that serves 42 million Americans, despite lingering concerns from the USDA.
Health officials have also sought to use an event involving Kennedy and West Virginia Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey to showcase the state’s plan to restrict food stamps for soda. However, Rollins was not expected to attend, with the circumstances still subject to change.
The two secretaries have aimed to present a united front, often appearing together publicly and advocating for key aspects of the MAHA initiative, including the overhaul of SNAP to restrict soda and other unhealthy foods.
“The top item that food stamps support through taxpayer dollars: Sugary drinks, to a group of children that come from a lower socioeconomic ladder that are in many ways from very impoverished families,” Rollins remarked at a recent private White House meeting with MAHA influencers. “And yet, that’s the number one thing our food stamp program is buying.”
No previous administration has embraced a ban on specific foods from SNAP, primarily due to the high costs and enforcement challenges, along with the scant evidence supporting significant long-term health benefits from such measures.
However, within Kennedy’s circle, some allies are growing increasingly impatient and questioning whether certain USDA officials are attempting to thwart the policy initiative entirely. “It’s notable,” one individual commented, “They’re trying to win an inside game.”
Spokespeople for both HHS and USDA refuted claims of discord, asserting that the two departments “are in lockstep to make America healthy again.”
“Where improvements can be made to encourage healthier decisions and healthier outcomes, the Department stands ready to support those improvements,” Audra Weeks, a USDA spokesperson, stated. “This notion that USDA is obstructing is nothing more than inside-the-beltway nonsense.”
Kennedy and his advisers have approached USDA with caution since Trump appointed Rollins, who had been their preferred candidate, to lead the department, especially after she appointed the former head of a seed oil trade group as her chief of staff. Kennedy has long criticized seed oils, claiming they are a significant contributor to chronic disease, alleging that Americans are being “unknowingly poisoned” by these oils frequently found in fast food and other products.
Despite their differing departments, Rollins and Kennedy have built a working relationship, even as they have occasionally struggled to remain aligned. Early in March, the USDA canceled programs intended to assist schools and food banks in purchasing local farm products—an action that puzzled Kennedy’s aides, who viewed such programs as beneficial for promoting healthier eating.
Recently, Kennedy proposed managing bird flu by allowing it to “run through” poultry farms, believing it would help identify immune birds. Rollins initially suggested this approach only in limited situations but recently appeared to endorse it, although she has not abandoned USDA’s plans for enhanced biosecurity and vaccine development.
While aides and allies largely dismissed these incidents as typical growing pains in coordinating two expansive departments, overhauling SNAP is deemed a crucial objective for both Rollins and Kennedy, who have jointly advocated for banning soda and other junk food from the program.
Kennedy argues that the swiftest method to reform SNAP is for states to receive waivers permitting them to exclude specific items from eligibility. “We shouldn’t be subsidizing them,” he remarked about soda purchases during a recent Fox News interview, highlighting the impact on low-income populations. “They’re the ones with the worst chronic disease burden, and we are literally poisoning those neighborhoods.”
Already, lawmakers in red states have introduced legislation urging governors to seek federal waivers to restrict soda or certain junk foods from SNAP. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders committed in December to pursue a waiver, and Democratic governors such as Gavin Newsom of California and Jared Polis of Colorado have signaled openness to similar limitations—indicating potential for bipartisan support.
Health officials have aimed to further underscore the initiative at Friday’s event with West Virginia’s governor, where Morrisey was tentatively set to reveal his plan for submitting a waiver.
However, the specifics remain uncertain amid USDA's concerns regarding the best way to align shared MAHA objectives and the technical complexities surrounding any waivers.
This process has drawn frustration from some on Kennedy’s team, which has yet to directly hold Rollins accountable but has privately suggested that her staff is deliberately slowing progress—possibly providing major beverage and food companies with an opportunity to dilute any effects on their products.
The American Beverage Association has strongly opposed the exclusion of soda from SNAP eligibility, asserting in a recent statement that it "won't make anyone healthier or save taxpayer dollars."
USDA officials and others engaged in the matter believe that the main challenge in adjusting the program is straightforward—it's inherently complicated to finalize the details.
Government requirements stipulate that waivers must meet specific standards, including presenting a viable method for tracking the success of any modifications, along with time limitations. States may also encounter difficulties in defining which products fall under the ban.
“There are very real feasibility concerns about these types of proposals and how a state would actually implement a project like this,” remarked Katie Bergh, a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "This is something that in reality tends to be much more complicated than it seems at first blush."
There’s no precedent for such bans, despite earlier attempts by states to pursue them. The Obama administration rejected a high-profile effort by then-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2011 to ban soda from SNAP, citing logistical issues and doubts about its effectiveness in decreasing obesity.
During Trump’s initial presidency, his administration turned down a proposal from Maine’s Republican governor to exclude candy and sugary beverages from SNAP, with USDA officials indicating that the ban would increase administrative expenses for both the government and retailers.
Congressional attempts to limit SNAP items have also failed, facing opposition from grocery store representatives and lawmakers who warn it could introduce new barriers, limit choices, or further stigmatize those relying on assistance.
A food industry lobbyist noted that Rollins is “out there calling herself a MAHA mom and talking about this stuff from an RFK-aligned perspective,” adding that obtaining a waiver is more complex than HHS appears to comprehend. "It's likely the team at USDA is working through a number of things, not just from a policy perspective but a legal perspective."
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
The Secretary of Health and Human Services is seeking approval from the Trump administration for state petitions to ban soda from the program for the first time. However, this program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is managed by the USDA, which the secretary does not oversee.
Aides to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins concur with Kennedy’s stance that federal aid should not fund products they attribute to rising obesity and other chronic health issues. However, they have raised concerns about the feasibility of Kennedy's rapid approach and expressed frustration over what they see as his encroachment into their jurisdiction.
This behind-the-scenes tension marks an initial conflict in the fragile collaboration between Kennedy and Rollins, which is aimed at fulfilling the Trump administration’s commitments to improving the health of Americans through its “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
“Rollins and Kennedy, they’ve both talked about this issue,” said one USDA staffer. “However, [HHS] is flying solo. It just doesn’t help to find a joint pathway forward.”
In recent weeks, Kennedy’s aides have encouraged governors and state lawmakers to file requests to limit soda purchases in the program that serves 42 million Americans, despite lingering concerns from the USDA.
Health officials have also sought to use an event involving Kennedy and West Virginia Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey to showcase the state’s plan to restrict food stamps for soda. However, Rollins was not expected to attend, with the circumstances still subject to change.
The two secretaries have aimed to present a united front, often appearing together publicly and advocating for key aspects of the MAHA initiative, including the overhaul of SNAP to restrict soda and other unhealthy foods.
“The top item that food stamps support through taxpayer dollars: Sugary drinks, to a group of children that come from a lower socioeconomic ladder that are in many ways from very impoverished families,” Rollins remarked at a recent private White House meeting with MAHA influencers. “And yet, that’s the number one thing our food stamp program is buying.”
No previous administration has embraced a ban on specific foods from SNAP, primarily due to the high costs and enforcement challenges, along with the scant evidence supporting significant long-term health benefits from such measures.
However, within Kennedy’s circle, some allies are growing increasingly impatient and questioning whether certain USDA officials are attempting to thwart the policy initiative entirely. “It’s notable,” one individual commented, “They’re trying to win an inside game.”
Spokespeople for both HHS and USDA refuted claims of discord, asserting that the two departments “are in lockstep to make America healthy again.”
“Where improvements can be made to encourage healthier decisions and healthier outcomes, the Department stands ready to support those improvements,” Audra Weeks, a USDA spokesperson, stated. “This notion that USDA is obstructing is nothing more than inside-the-beltway nonsense.”
Kennedy and his advisers have approached USDA with caution since Trump appointed Rollins, who had been their preferred candidate, to lead the department, especially after she appointed the former head of a seed oil trade group as her chief of staff. Kennedy has long criticized seed oils, claiming they are a significant contributor to chronic disease, alleging that Americans are being “unknowingly poisoned” by these oils frequently found in fast food and other products.
Despite their differing departments, Rollins and Kennedy have built a working relationship, even as they have occasionally struggled to remain aligned. Early in March, the USDA canceled programs intended to assist schools and food banks in purchasing local farm products—an action that puzzled Kennedy’s aides, who viewed such programs as beneficial for promoting healthier eating.
Recently, Kennedy proposed managing bird flu by allowing it to “run through” poultry farms, believing it would help identify immune birds. Rollins initially suggested this approach only in limited situations but recently appeared to endorse it, although she has not abandoned USDA’s plans for enhanced biosecurity and vaccine development.
While aides and allies largely dismissed these incidents as typical growing pains in coordinating two expansive departments, overhauling SNAP is deemed a crucial objective for both Rollins and Kennedy, who have jointly advocated for banning soda and other junk food from the program.
Kennedy argues that the swiftest method to reform SNAP is for states to receive waivers permitting them to exclude specific items from eligibility. “We shouldn’t be subsidizing them,” he remarked about soda purchases during a recent Fox News interview, highlighting the impact on low-income populations. “They’re the ones with the worst chronic disease burden, and we are literally poisoning those neighborhoods.”
Already, lawmakers in red states have introduced legislation urging governors to seek federal waivers to restrict soda or certain junk foods from SNAP. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders committed in December to pursue a waiver, and Democratic governors such as Gavin Newsom of California and Jared Polis of Colorado have signaled openness to similar limitations—indicating potential for bipartisan support.
Health officials have aimed to further underscore the initiative at Friday’s event with West Virginia’s governor, where Morrisey was tentatively set to reveal his plan for submitting a waiver.
However, the specifics remain uncertain amid USDA's concerns regarding the best way to align shared MAHA objectives and the technical complexities surrounding any waivers.
This process has drawn frustration from some on Kennedy’s team, which has yet to directly hold Rollins accountable but has privately suggested that her staff is deliberately slowing progress—possibly providing major beverage and food companies with an opportunity to dilute any effects on their products.
The American Beverage Association has strongly opposed the exclusion of soda from SNAP eligibility, asserting in a recent statement that it "won't make anyone healthier or save taxpayer dollars."
USDA officials and others engaged in the matter believe that the main challenge in adjusting the program is straightforward—it's inherently complicated to finalize the details.
Government requirements stipulate that waivers must meet specific standards, including presenting a viable method for tracking the success of any modifications, along with time limitations. States may also encounter difficulties in defining which products fall under the ban.
“There are very real feasibility concerns about these types of proposals and how a state would actually implement a project like this,” remarked Katie Bergh, a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "This is something that in reality tends to be much more complicated than it seems at first blush."
There’s no precedent for such bans, despite earlier attempts by states to pursue them. The Obama administration rejected a high-profile effort by then-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2011 to ban soda from SNAP, citing logistical issues and doubts about its effectiveness in decreasing obesity.
During Trump’s initial presidency, his administration turned down a proposal from Maine’s Republican governor to exclude candy and sugary beverages from SNAP, with USDA officials indicating that the ban would increase administrative expenses for both the government and retailers.
Congressional attempts to limit SNAP items have also failed, facing opposition from grocery store representatives and lawmakers who warn it could introduce new barriers, limit choices, or further stigmatize those relying on assistance.
A food industry lobbyist noted that Rollins is “out there calling herself a MAHA mom and talking about this stuff from an RFK-aligned perspective,” adding that obtaining a waiver is more complex than HHS appears to comprehend. "It's likely the team at USDA is working through a number of things, not just from a policy perspective but a legal perspective."
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
