States face a ticking clock to fix food aid mistakes or lose federal money, according to reports.
The Trump administration warned states they must slash error rates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program below 6% by fiscal year 2028. Right now, the national average sits at 11%, with some states far worse. Alaska posted a 25% error rate in 2024, while Washington, D.C., Georgia, Florida, New Mexico, and Massachusetts also ranked high for overpayments.
Officials say recent government shutdown disruptions and staffing issues complicate cleanup efforts. States that miss the target could be forced to cover up to 15% of SNAP costs themselves, a shift analysts warn may cut or reduce benefits for roughly 300,000 people nationwide.
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