House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson has sent a letter to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, expressing concern over the management of the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Thompson criticized what he described as the state’s mishandling of federal SNAP funds and policies that he says negatively affect both taxpayers and families in need.
Thompson's letter pointed to $450 million in incorrectly paid SNAP benefits in 2024, including both overpayments and underpayments. He took issue with characterizing these issues as “minor paperwork errors,” calling such descriptions “absurd” and evidence of “a blatant disregard for responsible governance.”
He also highlighted that in June 2024, there were 292,000 open jobs in Pennsylvania. At that time, unemployment was at 3.4%, which was below the national average of 4.1%. Despite this, the state’s Department of Human Services sought waivers for SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents in most counties by grouping counties strategically to gain approval from federal authorities. Thompson argued that this approach denied opportunities for recipients to work or participate in job training or volunteer activities. He estimated that about 170,000 able-bodied adults without dependents had been exempted from work requirements due to these waivers.
The letter also noted changes made by the Department of Human Services in 2022, which raised the income threshold for SNAP eligibility to 200 percent of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. This policy expanded benefits to more than 420,000 additional Pennsylvanians but contributed to higher caseloads and administrative challenges.
"If your administration cannot make improvements in program administration that have been possible in the past, I suggest that you re-examine budget priorities and further invest in SNAP. Congress can no longer turn a blind eye to states diverting taxpayer funding from vulnerable families, and you have an opportunity to be a part of this solution," Thompson wrote.
The full text of Chairman Thompson’s letter is available online.
