Minnesota lawmaker questions SNAP telephonic signature waiver amid federal-state dispute

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended Minnesota’s COVID-era SNAP waiver through June 30, 2028, permitting verbal signatures on applications without audio recordings. Minnesota officials claim the waiver is available to every household applying, renewing or recertifying benefits, whereas USDA officials describe it as covering fewer than 10,000 households, mainly seniors and tribal communities. Representative Kristin Robbins, chair of the Minnesota House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee, learned of the extension via a state agency email and expressed surprise that such a process remains in place.

She has asked the state department for data on waiver usage and safeguards, and has written to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Inspector General John Walk seeking a comprehensive review. Robbins warned that the lack of recordings could hinder audits and increase fraud risk, and she criticized Governor Tim Walz for withholding food-stamp data. The USDA responded positively to Robbins’ focus on fraud prevention but highlighted the need for Minnesota to comply with waiver conditions.