January 10, 2026
SNAP or slap? The fed food fight
USDA suspends federal financial awards to Minnesota and Minneapolis
USDA hits pause on aid; community cries ‘political stunt’ and ‘food stamp shock’
TLDR: USDA froze funding to Minnesota and Minneapolis over alleged massive food program fraud. Comments erupted: some call it collective punishment that could hit SNAP, others say it’s a political stunt amid a lawsuit, and a few want names and accountability—because millions’ food aid might be on the line.
The internet lit up when the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) slammed the brakes on federal funds to Minnesota and Minneapolis, with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins posting a fiery “drain the Minnesota swamp” message on X. The agency points to a massive fraud saga—most famously Feeding Our Future, accused of siphoning $250 million meant for child nutrition programs—with 78 people charged. HHS (Health and Human Services) already froze childcare grants, turning a funding chill into an icy standoff.
Commenters didn’t hold back. One called it “collective punishment” that borders on a “war crime.” Another said the bland headline hides the real impact: this could hit SNAP (food stamps), leaving families hungry. A third declared it’s “clearly a political stunt,” noting a pending lawsuit and linking to MinnPost. Meanwhile, a crowd demanded to know who actually ordered the freeze—Rollins, Trump, or some “czar/pasha”—and a meme thread promptly started handing out medieval job titles.
Economy nerds jumped in to ask if Minnesota is a net payer to D.C. and whether the state can cover its own food aid. The comment war split into Team Crackdown (“stop the fraud, full stop”) vs. Team Catastrophe (“don’t punish millions for the sins of a few”), with jokes like “SNAP or slap?” and riffs on “drain the lakes” piling on the chaos.
Key Points
- •USDA suspended federal financial awards to Minnesota and Minneapolis, effective immediately.
- •Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins cited widespread fraud and said the suspension will remain until proof shows the fraud has stopped.
- •A document to Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey referenced “industrial-scale” fraud and highlighted the Feeding Our Future case.
- •The alleged scheme involved USDA funds via CACFP and SFSP, with nearly $250 million defrauded and 78 people charged as of late November.
- •The USDA action follows HHS freezing funding for several childcare-related programs in Minnesota, including CCDF, TANF, and SSBG.