Trump Administration Considers Drug Testing for Food Assistance Programs

The Trump Administration has announced it is looking into drug testing for welfare recipients. While Federal law right now prevents states from implementing their own restrictions, the proposed law would give states much more flexibility.

SNAP, The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, currently helps over 42 million Americans to get by. The proposed plan would affect an estimated 5% of that population, targeting those labeled as "able-bodied" to work and "without dependents".

Approximately 15-20 states have already tried to impose some sort of measure of screening for food assistance programs, and Secretary Perdue says states should have greater control over their handling of SNAP.