The SNAP Payment Security and Fraud Prevention Act of 2026 strengthens fraud prevention and cybersecurity protections for the federal food assistance program by expanding the USDA Inspector General's authority to investigate benefit theft across state lines and imposing civil penalties of twice the stolen benefit amount on those who commit fraud. The bill requires the Agriculture Department to establish comprehensive cybersecurity standards within two years, including chip-enabled EBT cards (rolled out over five years), secure online account portals, transaction alerts, and virtual card numbers for online shopping. Additionally, states must replace lost, stolen, or damaged EBT cards within three business days at no cost, retailers must install chip-enabled payment terminals to prevent card cloning, and the USDA must publish biennial reports to Congress tracking benefit theft trends and cybersecurity effectiveness. These measures protect millions of low-income families who rely on SNAP benefits while reducing fraud and system vulnerabilities across the program.
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