**Republicans in Congress Near Approval of Tax-and-Spending Cuts Package Affecting Food Stamp Eligibility for Former Foster Youth**
*By Michael Fitzgerald | The Imprint | October 2025*
Republicans in Congress who are enacting President Donald Trump’s agenda are on the verge of approving a sweeping tax-and-spending cuts package that introduces a new, higher hurdle for tens of thousands of former foster youth to receive food stamps.
Under the provision, individuals as young as 18 and living in poverty would have to prove that they are employed, in training, or enrolled in school to remain eligible for more than three months on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
In interviews late last night, three former foster youth who have become leading national advocates for their peers—two of whom once relied on SNAP benefits to survive after exiting foster care—strongly criticized the rollback and demanded that Congress reinstate the protections.
“If the government is our ‘parent’ when we age out of care, shouldn’t the government make this transition into adulthood as smooth as possible?” said Zoë Jones-Walton, 27, a graduate student and policy advocate from Texas. “It is vital that this exemption remains intact so young people are able to thrive and support themselves when they have nowhere else to turn, which is often the case.”
Military veterans are also affected. Their transition back into civilian life and employment can be complicated. Many wish there were separate programs assisting them, but the Department of Veterans Affairs has its own challenges.
If the Republican-led legislation is signed into law, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that 2.9 million Americans—including 270,000 veterans, homeless individuals, and former foster youth—could lose SNAP benefits.
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### Community Reactions
**CondoleezzaProtege** commented:
“Conservatism deals with the reality of the world as it is. ‘Complicated and beautiful, tragic and hopeful, we believe in the rights and the responsibilities and the inherent dignity of the individual. We don’t believe that human nature is perfectible; we’re suspicious of government efforts to fix problems because often what it’s trying to fix is human nature, and that is impossible. It is what it is. But that doesn’t mean that we’re resigned to, well, any negative destiny. Not at all. I believe in striving for the ideal, but within the realistic confines of human nature.’” — Sarah Palin
**tumblindice (America’s founding fathers: all armed conservatives)** responded:
“Nah, c’mon man! Don’t they get a Gap Year and spending money, a flight and Eurail Pass like everyone else? I mean, like WORK WORK? Are you nuts? Where’s your humanity?”
**Uncle Miltie** added:
“LoL thanks for the reminder. I think our founders expected the Church to play a bigger role than the State in addressing these matters. Where is the Church? 🤷🏻♀️ (I do need to be better about donating to my local Catholic food bank.)”
**CondoleezzaProtege** replied:
“Nobody needs to starve. We should be able to serve Nutriloaf as sustenance until people get back on their feet. If you won’t eat it, you ain’t hungry.”
**Drew68** noted:
“I haven’t seen the Democrats this mad since yesterday. Save some tears for tomorrow.”
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*Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management.*
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*Read more at [imprintnews.org](https://imprintnews.org)*
**Topics:** Issues
**Keywords:** doge, ebt, food stamps, foster care, foster youth, MAGA, SNAP, welfare
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/4349535/posts
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