Castro Leads Texas Delegation In Demanding Turnaround Of Staggering SNAP Backlog Formed Under Abbott
WASHINGTON, DC —Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) led the Texas Delegation, including Representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Al Green (TX-9), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-7), and Henry Cuellar (TX-28), in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins demanding the turnaround of a massive backlog in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications that formed under Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
In the letter, the members admonished the state’s failure to process SNAP applications on time and keep families in need fed, writing, “Texans are facing increasing delays in accessing critical food and nutrition assistance because SNAP applications are not being processed in a timely manner. Texas’ SNAP application backlog rose from approximately 3,700 pending applications in January 2026 to an astonishing 175,000 by early September 2026. Federal law generally requires states to process SNAP applications and issue benefits within 30 days and to act on expedited applications within seven days—a standard Texas has not consistently met.…Each pending application represents a household that may be without the help it needs to keep food on the table.”
The members continued by underscoring the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on the staggering backlog, writing, “We are also concerned about the combined effect of the SNAP changes in Public Law 119-21, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), on Texas’ ability to deliver food assistance to eligible households on time. Expanded work requirements, narrowed exemptions, and newly imposed state cost sharing come at a time when SNAP caseloads remain high and families are already experiencing delays in benefit access…. [Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)] has acknowledged that the new SNAP mandates require a closer review of each case, which indicates that implementing OBBBA SNAP provisions is directly reducing processing capacity.”
The members also demanded an investigation, including an evaluation of contracted vendors, and federal intervention if the backlog was not adequately addressed.
The members requested a response by November 30, 2026. To download the letter, click here.
BACKGROUND:
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) backlog rose from 3,700 in January 2026 to 175,000 in September 2026. The state’s on-time rate for SNAP renewals hit the lowest in four years, from 83% to 28% in July. Changes to SNAP under the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) imposed expanded work requirements, new state cost sharing, and narrowed exemptions. These extra requirements have added to the volume and complexity to Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) cases in need of review. The OBBBA also made $187 billion in cuts to SNAP, eliminating benefits for 550,000 Texans. According to the Center for American Progress, the cuts could lead to 55,400 unnecessary deaths in Texas.
Prior to the OBBBA, the federal government paid 100% of SNAP benefit costs regardless of a state’s payment error rate. The OBBBA includes a provision that required states with a payment error rate of 6% or more to pay a share of the benefit cost. This provision goes into effect October 1, 2027. Texas’ FY 2025 payment error rate was 9.34, which means Texas would be responsible for 10% of the cost of SNAP benefits, approximately $709 million. Texas receives roughly $7 billion a year in federally funded SNAP benefits.
A separate provision in the OBBBA increased the state share of SNAP administrative costs. The previous federal/state administrative cost split was 50/50.?The OBBBA reduces the federal cost share from 50% to 25%. States are now required to cover 75% of program administration effective October 1, 2026.
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