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(Washington, D.C., May 23, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins signed waivers to amend the statutory definition of food for purchase for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) in Indiana and Iowa, each commencing in 2026. On Monday, Secretary Rollins signed the first-ever waiver of this kind in Nebraska.
“President Trump has given our nation a once in a generation opportunity to change the health trajectory for our entire country. On my first day as Secretary, I sent a call to states to innovate, and Governors Jim Pillen, Kim Reynolds, Mike Braun, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Laura Kelly, Patrick Morrisey, Jared Polis, Brad Little, Spencer Cox, and Greg Abbott have stepped up and taken action. I look forward to signing even more waivers in the days ahead as we continue to restore the health of America,” said Secretary Rollins.
“Indiana is proud to be a leader in the Make America Healthy Again initiative, and today Secretary Rollins signed our waiver to return SNAP in Indiana to its intended purpose: nutrition. President Trump and Secretary Rollins are putting our farmers first and supporting American agriculture, and I was proud to join them today,” said Governor Braun.
“Soaring obesity rates have brought our nation and state to a crossroads,” said Governor Reynolds. “To promote healthy eating and protect future generations from disease—and to ensure SNAP fulfills its core function—we need a change. Thank you to Secretary Rollins and her team for helping make that change happen.”
Prior to these waivers, SNAP recipients could buy anything except alcohol, tobacco, hot foods, and personal care products. This historic action expands the list of products excluded from SNAP purchases in Indiana and Iowa. Indiana’s waiver excludes soft drinks and candy, and it will take effect January 1, 2026. The waiver for Iowa excludes any food item eligible for sales tax including sweetened beverages, snacks, and candy, and this waiver will take effect January 1, 2026.
As part of the Make America Healthy Again agenda, this historic action seeks to reverse alarming disease trends across the country. Prediabetes now affects one in three children ages 12 to 19; 40% of school-aged children and adolescents have at least one chronic condition; and 15% of high school students drink one or more sodas daily.
At the direction of President Trump, USDA is ensuring programs work harder to encourage healthy eating and improved lifestyle habits. On Secretary Rollins’ first full day in office, she sent a letter to the nation’s governors (PDF, 88.8 KB), outlining her vision for the Department and inviting them to participate in a new “Laboratories of Innovation” initiative to create bold solutions to long-ignored challenges. Secretary Rollins and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote an opinion piece in USA Today outlining their plan to Make America Healthy Again, including through SNAP waivers like the one signed today.
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