A bill introduced by House Republican Brandon Gill would prohibit the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for purchases at restaurants. The proposed legislation, titled the Ending Restaurant Purchases with SNAP Act, seeks to eliminate the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), which allows eligible SNAP beneficiaries to buy prepared meals from participating eateries.
Gill argued that the current system represents a "loophole" that allows taxpayer money to be spent on fast food rather than essential groceries. "SNAP is supposed to help struggling Americans put nutritious food on the table, not stick taxpayers with the bill for fast food," Gill stated. He noted that over $524 million in SNAP benefits were used at restaurants across nine states between June 2023 and May 2025.
California accounted for the largest portion of this spending, with $475 million used at restaurants, followed by Arizona at $41.4 million and New York at $3.6 million. The RMP, established in 1977, was originally intended to assist individuals who lack cooking facilities or adequate food storage.
The bill, however, would still permit public and nonprofit organizations to provide meals to beneficiaries, including provisions for disabled and elderly Americans who may require home-delivered meals.
This initiative aligns with broader Republican efforts to reform SNAP. Earlier in the year, a group of GOP lawmakers, including Senator Joni Ernst, raised concerns about SNAP expenditures at fast-food establishments and urged the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture to review RMP regulations. The lawmakers expressed that the program has evolved from a narrow accommodation to one increasingly utilized by large national chains.
Gill has publicly questioned the appropriateness of using SNAP benefits for non-essential items, engaging in a debate with Gina Plata-Nino, director of SNAP Policy and Advocacy at the Food Research and Action Center, regarding the purchase of items like soft drinks with benefits. 
