Gov. Evers Urges Trump Administration to Rescind New Snap Rule That Will Hurt Access to Basic Food Necessities for Kids, Families, and Seniors in Wisconsin’s Rural Areas
Under new Trump Administration SNAP rule, thousands of stores across the country could lose eligibility to receive benefits, harming local businesses and reducing access to healthy foods in places already considered food deserts, especially in rural areas
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers sent a letter to the Trump Administration urging them to rescind new changes set to be implemented this fall that will make it harder for Americans, including Wisconsinites on FoodShare, to access basic food necessities under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Under a new Trump Administration rule that is set to go into effect in November, according to the Trump Administration’s own analysis, an estimated 5,000 stores across the country could be ineligible to accept SNAP benefits, hurting access to basic food necessities for kids, families, and seniors in Wisconsin, especially in the state’s rural areas. Gov. Evers underscored in his letter that this new rule change won’t just hurt small businesses’ bottom lines by eliminating an important source of income for them but will reduce access to healthy food for kids, families, and seniors in communities across Wisconsin, especially in areas that are already considered food deserts, affecting significant areas of the state’s rural communities.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) stocking standard final rule increases the staple-food requirement that food retailers must offer in their stores from three to seven varieties in each of four food categories, while also reclassifying certain food items as non-qualifying “accessory foods.” Doing so will inevitably make food retailers less likely to participate in SNAP, making it even harder for people to access basic food necessities—a problem that’s worsened due to rising costs and new Republican red-tape requirements under the so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ In fact, more than 71 percent of SNAP retailers are small stores, many of which are one of the only food access points in many rural and urban areas. The retailers most at risk are often in rural or Tribal areas without another food store option for miles or in dense urban areas with no alternatives within walking distance.
As noted in the governor’s letter, due to these new rules, Wisconsin may be left with significantly fewer accessible food options or without any options at all, especially for farmers, seniors, and kids and families living in Wisconsin’s more rural areas and communities. This adds insult to injury for retailers in Wisconsin, many of whom are already operating on razor-thin margins, accounting for fewer folks receiving and spending SNAP benefits due to President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ and costs on everyday goods going up from groceries to gas.
“With Wisconsinites across the state already struggling to afford basic necessities due to thousands of dollars of increased household costs annually due to President Trump’s reckless and chaotic policies, we need to ensure folks have access to affordable, healthy food in every corner of our state,” wrote Gov. Evers. “Instead of pursuing rule changes that further exacerbate food insecurity in Wisconsin, I encourage you to rescind this rule and work with your Republican colleagues in D.C. to reverse these harmful changes to SNAP created by the so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ and do the right thing for the kids, families, seniors, veterans, and communities across our state and across the country that depend on this vital program.”
The governor’s letter comes as Wisconsin families are already struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table thanks to President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ reckless and harmful policies. President Trump’s so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ which was supported by every one of Wisconsin’s Republican congressional leaders, cut essential SNAP food assistance by about 20 percent by increasing red-tape requirements and gutting healthy and nutritional food education programs. As a result, according to the latest reporting, nearly 24,000 Wisconsinites are no longer receiving SNAP benefits since its enactment.
Gov. Evers last month slammed President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress—including Republican members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation who have largely voted with President Trump on his signature policies—after a recently released report that found that, as of June 30, 2026, the average American household has spent about $2,072 more on gas, electricity, and tariff-affected goods since President Trump took office for his second term. That total increases to $3,569 for a typical household if they receive health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. According to the report, in Wisconsin, households have paid roughly $2,035 and $3,548 more during this time period, respectively, with costs only expected to increase during the remainder of the year.
More information regarding the state’s FoodShare program, including how to apply for and manage benefits, is available on DHS’s website. Gov. Evers’ letter to USDA Secretary Rollins is attached.
A transcript of the governor’s letter to USDA Secretary Rollins is available below.
Dear Secretary Rollins:
I write to urge you to rescind the USDA’s staple food stocking standards rule for retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), slated for implementation in November. This proposal, compounded by significant cuts to SNAP benefits stemming from President Donald J. Trump and Congressional Republicans’ so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ risks harming small grocery stores and convenience stores that rely on SNAP to stay afloat, as well as Wisconsinites who rely on these stores to keep their families fed. The USDA’s own analysis estimates that 5,000 stores across the country could lose their eligibility to receive SNAP benefits under these new requirements, harming businesses and reducing access to healthy foods in places already considered food deserts.
The USDA stocking standard final rule, with required implementation by November 4, increases the staple-food requirement that food retailers must offer in their stores from three to seven varieties in each of four food categories, while also reclassifying certain food items as non-qualifying “accessory foods.” While meeting these new standards may not be challenging for established grocery stores or large chains, more than 71 percent of SNAP retailers are small stores, many of which are one of the only food access points in many rural and urban areas. The retailers most at risk are often in rural or Tribal areas without another food store option for miles or in dense urban areas with no alternatives within walking distance. A USDA metric to identify food deserts, low-income low access areas (LILA), estimates that 10 percent of the state, over half a million Wisconsinites, live in a food desert.
USDA has presented this rule as a way to encourage expanded access to “real foods,” but if the only convenience store in an area is deauthorized and can no longer accept SNAP benefits due to these new standards, Wisconsinites—especially families and farmers who live in our rural areas and communities—may be left with significantly fewer accessible food options or without any options at all. In addition, the new rule stipulates that deauthorized businesses cannot apply for recertification to receive SNAP payments for six months, further increasing the potential harm and reduction in access to healthy foods for Wisconsinites. Many of these businesses are already operating on razor-thin margins, having to also account for fewer folks receiving and spending SNAP benefits due to President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ As of April, nearly 24,000 Wisconsinites are no longer receiving SNAP benefits since the enactment of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ last July.
As an example of the local impact felt here in Wisconsin, Exeland Depot is a convenience store located in Northern Wisconsin in Exeland, and it is the only convenience store and shopping option for miles for the 229 people who live there. Unfortunately, in recent months and since the passage of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ Exeland Depot has seen a decline in SNAP usage in their store and will now be required to make changes to their store layout and the food options offered or risk deauthorization of accepting SNAP altogether, making it even harder for the kids, families, and seniors in Exeland to get the food they need.
With Wisconsinites across the state already struggling to afford basic necessities due to thousands of dollars of increased household costs annually due to President Trump’s reckless and chaotic policies, we need to ensure folks have access to affordable, healthy food in every corner of our state. Instead of pursuing rule changes that further exacerbate food insecurity in Wisconsin, I encourage you to rescind this rule and work with your Republican colleagues in D.C. to reverse these harmful changes to SNAP created by the so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ and do the right thing for the kids, families, seniors, veterans, and communities across our state and across the country that depend on this vital program.
Yours in Service,
Tony Evers
Governor
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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