Judge Blocks Iowa SNAP Junk Food Ban, Overrules USDA
A federal judge has blocked Iowa's SNAP junk food restrictions, ruling the U.S. Department of Agriculture lacked the authority to approve state waivers limiting food choices for beneficiaries. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued the ruling on June 22, halting the rollout of Iowa's broad restrictions and challenging the Trump administration's efforts to ensure taxpayer dollars fund nutritious choices.
Why did the judge block the SNAP restrictions?
Judge Jackson found that the USDA overstepped its legal boundaries by approving waivers that excluded certain foods from SNAP eligibility. These waivers allowed states to restrict products they classified as junk food, but the judge concluded the agency was not authorized to cut types of food out of SNAP entirely.
Several SNAP recipients in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia sued the Agriculture Department in March. They argued the restrictions would destabilize food access for beneficiaries and exceeded the agency's legal authority.
Congress defined what 'food' is supposed to be, and it did not authorize the agency to amend or waive the definition it enacted.
What did Iowa's SNAP waiver include?
Iowa faced the broadest restrictions among the states seeking to reform the program. Rather than targeting only soda or candy, the Iowa waiver would have barred SNAP purchases of most foods subject to the state's sales tax. This included candy, soft drinks, dietary supplements, and prepared foods.
The Trump administration invited states to apply for these waivers as part of its Make America Healthy Again initiative. Administration officials said the policy was intended to combat obesity and chronic disease, return SNAP to its nutritional purpose, and ensure taxpayer dollars were spent on healthier food choices.
Nebraska became the first state to receive approval in May 2025, followed by Indiana and Iowa. The USDA later expanded the program to 23 states, approving the waivers as demonstration projects to test restrictions on foods otherwise eligible for purchase under SNAP.
Will the Trump administration appeal the ruling?
The Trump administration has not yet announced whether it plans to appeal the decision. However, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signaled the administration's commitment to the cause. Rollins posted on social media that the administration will keep fighting to Make America Healthy Again.
To enforce the now-blocked restrictions, retailers would have updated their checkout systems. SNAP EBT cards would decline purchases of prohibited items while still allowing customers to buy them with their own money using cash, debit, or credit.
How does this affect other states with SNAP bans?
The ruling immediately blocks restrictions in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The decision does not immediately affect the 18 other states with approved waivers. These states have either already implemented restrictions or are still working toward future implementation.
Arkansas is pressing forward with its SNAP food ban despite the ruling. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the plan on June 29, citing an urgent need to combat a chronic disease epidemic in America, including high rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
The Arkansas governor's office cited Stanford University research that found restricting the purchase of sugary drinks with food stamps could reduce rates of obesity and type-2 diabetes. However, overall research remains mixed about whether restricting SNAP purchases improves diet quality and health.
Mississippi has submitted a waiver request that is still awaiting USDA approval, while Alabama, South Dakota, and Wisconsin have announced plans to seek waivers. The court's decision could influence how those requests are handled. If an appeals court upholds Jackson's ruling, those waivers could also be struck down.
Can states still restrict junk food purchases with SNAP benefits?
Currently, state restrictions in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia are blocked by the federal court. Other states with approved waivers are not immediately affected, but the ruling creates legal uncertainty for future state-level restrictions.
What happens to Iowa's SNAP restrictions now?
The restrictions are halted unless the Trump administration appeals the ruling and wins. For now, SNAP recipients in Iowa can continue using their benefits to purchase all eligible food items without the state-imposed limits.