SNAP Administrator Retention Act

Official: SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025

IntroducedMay 15, 2025

Agriculture and Food

Why This Matters

The SNAP Administrator Retention Act aims to enhance the staffing and pay of workers managing food assistance programs by increasing federal funding and setting wage standards. This helps ensure that these programs can effectively support families in need.

If you rely on food assistance programs, this bill could lead to better services and support for you.

Affects: State agency employees who manage the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the families they serve.

Summary

SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025This bill directs the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to pay Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) state agencies for 100% of SNAP administrative personnel costs. The bill also requires that state SNAP agency administrators be paid at least the same amount as federal employees. (Under current law, FNS generally pays 50% of a state's administrative costs for SNAP.) Specifically, FNS must pay a state agency for 100% of all SNAP administrative personnel costs that are part of an FNS-approved state agency personnel wage plan. This must include all costs associated with hiring and training new employees, maintaining those personnel costs, and complying with wage standards. The state agency must use these funds (1) to supplement, not supplant, nonfederal funds used for existing administrative personnel costs; and (2) for existing or additional full-time positions that are above the number of positions that were held in FY2024. The bill also requires that the wage standards for SNAP state agency administrators be (1) at least the same amount as the General Schedule (GS) pay rate for federal employees; and (2) updated annually based on any increase in the GS pay rate, including locality adjustments.