Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace is targeting SNAP fraud with legislation requiring photo identification on Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.
The bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to mandate that EBT cards include a photograph of the authorized household cardholder. The Food Assistance Integrity and Responsibility Act, or FAIR Act, would require photo verification before any SNAP benefits are spent. (RELATED: Oregon Republican Demands Feds Review Governor Kotek’s $1M Tribal-Only Welfare Boost)
Food Assistance Integrity and Responsibility (FAIR) Act by ashley
The bill’s introduction follows USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins’ warnings at a Tuesday cabinet meeting about extensive SNAP abuse — including more than 186,000 deceased individuals still listed as recipients, over 500,000 people collecting benefits in multiple states, and some individuals drawing benefits from as many as six states. Rollins noted that 800,000 of the program’s 42 million beneficiaries were recently removed from the rolls, and more than $102 million in SNAP benefits were stolen in the first quarter alone.
Under the legislation, each EBT card must display a photograph of the authorized cardholder taken within the past ten years, or within the past five years for minors. Benefits may only be redeemed using a card bearing both the name and photograph of the cardholder. States may issue additional photo-verified cards for households with multiple authorized users, including accomodations for caregivers assisting minors, seniors, or individuals with disabilities.
The bill requires retailers to verify the photograph on an EBT card before completing transactions. It also directs the USDA to update its regulations within 18 months for nationwide implementation.
NO DATA, NO MONEY — it’s that simple.
If a state won’t share data on criminal use of SNAP benefits, it won’t get a dollar of federal SNAP administrative funding.
Let’s see which states stand for accountability and which are just protecting their bribery schemes. 🤔💸 pic.twitter.com/Y1UXXDOoao
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) December 2, 2025
Rollins also said 21 states have failed to comply with a February directive to immediately clarify and enforce rules limiting SNAP benefits to U.S. citizens and lawful residents.
The directive implements President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,” which ensures taxpayer resources are not used to incentivize or support illegal immigration.
