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(Washington, D.C., May 19, 2026) - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke L. Rollins joined Montana Governor Greg Gianforte today as the Governor submitted a waiver to USDA to ban soft drinks, junk food, and candy from the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“The Trump Administration is pleased that Governor Gianforte and Montana stepped up to incentivize healthier options for SNAP recipients, Montana is now the 23rd state to join the Make America Healthy Again initiative and refocus efforts on providing nutritious foods for Americans,” said Secretary Rollins. “Bringing SNAP back to its core principle of nutrition is common sense and we hope to sign waivers for all 50 states soon, and promote healthy foods for all Americans.”
“Thanks to the strong leadership of President Donald J. Trump, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, and Secretary Rollins, we are taking bold steps to Make America Healthy Again,” said Governor Gianforte. “Montana is proud to join 22 other states to ensure taxpayer dollars provide nutritious options that improve health outcomes for those who rely on these crucial programs.”
“This waiver is a critical step in addressing the growing concern of diet-related chronic conditions across our state,” said Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Charlie Brereton. “By aligning SNAP purchases with national dietary guidelines, we are directly supporting Montana’s goal to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks, candy, and other foods that contribute to adverse health outcomes, including obesity and Type 2 diabetes.”
These actions build on Secretary Rollins’ “Laboratories of Innovation” initiative, announced on her first day in office, which invites governors to propose state-driven solutions to strengthen federal nutrition programs and protect taxpayer resources. Montana joins 22 other states that have now partnered with USDA and HHS to strengthen SNAP’s nutritional integrity. Each waiver tailors excluded items based on state submissions and will go into effect in 2026.
At the direction of President Trump, USDA is ensuring programs work harder to encourage healthy eating and lifestyle habits.
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