Freshman Rep. Brandon Gill has introduced a bill to end the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's (SNAP) Restaurant Meals Program, which allows beneficiaries to use their benefits to purchase hot meals at restaurants. The proposed "Ending Restaurant Purchases with SNAP Act" would bar food stamp recipients from using their benefits at eateries, citing concerns that such spending is not in line with the program's original intent. According to the bill, more than half a billion dollars in SNAP benefits were spent on restaurants across nine states between 2023 and 2025, with California accounting for $475 million of this amount. The bill aims to redirect these funds towards grocery purchases.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-03,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A bill introduced by Rep. Brandon Gill (R) aims to prohibit food stamp recipients from using their benefits at restaurants. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's (SNAP) Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) currently allows beneficiaries to purchase hot meals at certain eateries. According to *Gill*, over $524 million was spent on restaurant purchases through RMP in just two years, with $475 million of that amount coming from California alone. Gill claims this represents a "loophole" and argues that SNAP benefits should only be used for groceries, not fast food. He asserts that the program's original intent was to help individuals unable to store or prepare food, but it has grown to include large national chains. If passed, the Ending Restaurant Purchases with SNAP Act would eliminate RMP, a move Gill believes would align with efforts to reduce junk food purchases through SNAP.
Written for “Food Stamp Restaurant Ban Proposal” on 2026-09-03,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
-
SNAP is supposed to help struggling Americans put nutritious food on the table, not stick taxpayers with the bill for fast food
right frames the purpose of SNAP as providing healthy food
-
More than half a billion dollars in SNAP benefits have gone to restaurants through this loophole in just two years while the Trump administration is working to get junk food out of the program
right frames the use of SNAP at restaurants as a 'loophole'
-
The RMP was established by the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 and was meant to help people who lacked cooking opportunities or adequate food storage get assistance purchasing ready-to-eat meals
left frames the original purpose of RMP as helping those in need
Leaning score +0.65 for article 3640 (high confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-03
Freshman Rep. Brandon Gill wants to bar restaurants from accepting food stamp benefits, arguing the entitlement should only be used to purchase groceries.
asserted
entitlement → want → groceries
A bill unveiled Thursday by Gill would end the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), which lets beneficiaries purchase hot meals at certain eateries.
asserted
beneficiaries → unveil → eateries
“SNAP is supposed to help struggling Americans put nutritious food on the table, not stick taxpayers with the bill for fast food,” Gill told The Post in a statement.
asserted
Gill → suppose → statement
“More than half a billion dollars in SNAP benefits have gone to restaurants through this loophole in just two years while the Trump administration is working to get junk food out of the program.”
asserted
food → go → program
The Post previously reported that approximately $524 million was spent at restaurants across nine states with RMPs — New York, California, Arizona, Michigan, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Illinois, Virginia and Maryland — between June 2023 and May 2025.
uncertain
million → report → June
Of the states enrolled, California spent the most on restaurants ($475 million), followed by Arizona ($41.4 million) and New York ($3.6 million).
asserted
California → enrol → Arizona
Under Gill’s Ending Restaurant Purchases with SNAP Act, public and nonprofit groups would still be able to provide meals to beneficiaries, including disabled and elderly Americans eligible for home deliveries.
asserted
groups → end → deliveries
The RMP was established by the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 and was meant to help people who lacked cooking opportunities or adequate food storage get assistance purchasing ready-to-eat meals.
asserted
who → establish → meals
In June, Gill tangled with Gina Plata-Nino, the director of SNAP Policy and Advocacy at the Food Research and Action Center, over the use of food stamps on unhealthy products like soft drinks.
asserted
Gill → tangle → drinks
“Do the American people need Coca-Cola to survive?” he asked during the exchange, adding after Plata-Nino dodged the question: “I think most people can rationally say that you don’t need Coca-Cola to survive.”
asserted
you → need → Cola
The following month, Gill was among a group of GOP lawmakers, led by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who raised concerns about SNAP spending at fast food restaurants.
asserted
who → lead → restaurants
The legislators urged both the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture to investigate whether RMP rules need to be tightened.
asserted
rules → urge → Agriculture
“What was originally intended as a narrow accommodation for individuals unable to store or prepare food, the program has grown and is now dominated by large national fast-food and quick-service chains,” the Republicans wrote in a letter to the heads of USDA and HHS.
asserted
Republicans → intend → USDA
Freshman Rep. Brandon Gill argued that RMP has created a loophole in SNAP that's been widely exploited.
asserted
that → argue → SNAP
Republicans added work requirements to the SNAP program in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
asserted
Republicans → add → Act
The congressman railed against SNAP being used at fast food chains such as McDonald's.
asserted
SNAP → rail → McDonald
