The Trump Administration announced new requirements for SNAP benefits this week in a move that could see nearly 700,000 Americans lose benefits. The new rules will affect able-bodied adults (18-49) without children; they will be required to complete 20 hours of work a week in order to qualify for benefits. They currently make up 7% of all SNAP recipients.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously called Food Stamps, was put in place in order to reduce food insecurity, reduce poverty, and improve health outcomes for low and no income earners in the U.S.. Critics of the new rule say that this requirement is in opposition to that purpose. They argue cutting these benefits would make it harder, not easier, to get a job. Some also worry that the expense will be passed onto states.

Roughly 75% of able-bodied childless SNAP recipients do not have work. There are many factors at play that can make it difficult for people to meet the 20 hour requirement: opioid addiction, health conditions, limited education, housing insecurity, and a reliance on seasonal work can all stand between beneficiaries and a job. There will be some waivers available for those in areas under increased economic hardship or recovering from a natural disaster.

Brandon Lipps, the USDA deputy undersecretary for food nutrition and consumer services, on the other hand, argues that the American people deserve to "know the dignity of work", an argument based on personal responsibility. The Administration estimates that this will save the USDA roughly $5.5 billion.

Meanwhile, farmers in the U.S. will be receiving nearly $30 billion in subsidies to counterbalance the damage done to them financially by the Trump Administration's trade war. This bailout was actually overestimated by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture meaning, despite lower sales, farmers will have a higher income this year than last year. Net farm income this year is $93 billion, a 10% increase over last year. Of that $93 billion, 40% of it came from subsidies. The USDA paid 40% of farmers net income this year because of the trade war with China.

It's not clear whether or not supporters of the new requirements for SNAP feel the farm bailout is in line with their idea of personal responsibility, but it is important to remember that these subsidies are not being given because of some failure on the part of the farmers to work hard enough, but rather because of trade policies put in place by the Trump Administration in Trump's trade war with China. Because of a calculation mistake, farmers will be overpaid by $9.3 billion while 700,000 could lose the money they use to buy food in order to save the USDA $5.5 billion.