15 Percent Increase in Grocery Prices Tied to Biden’s Food Stamp Expansion
A new government watchdog report claims that the Biden administration’s efforts to increase food stamp benefits have led to a 15% increase in grocery prices. The Department of Agriculture (DOA) revised the nutritional standards for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in 2021. This resulted in the program’s largest permanent increase, bypassing Congress and expanding the program by 27% on average. Overall spending on the program more than doubled between 2019 and 2022. The expansion is projected to cost taxpayers over $1 trillion over the next decade due to increased spending on food stamps and its impact on grocery prices and inflation. The Foundation for Government Accountability estimates that repealing the expansion could save over $193 billion in taxpayer funds. Food stamp spending will likely be a key issue when Congress reauthorizes the Farm Bill.