March 8, 2024 – Today, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) Strengthening Cybersecurity for the SNAP Act Preventing criminals from exploiting security flaws in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards used to pay for groceries. Exploiting these flaws allows criminals to steal food benefits from low-income households. The bill would update cybersecurity regulations for SNAP cards, which haven't been updated since 2010, to require the use of anti-fraud chips and move away from outdated and less secure magnetic stripes. This legislation ensures that USDA proactively updates her EBT requirements as new technology becomes available. Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) have introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives.
“SNAP is a critical lifeline for nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians, and we must do everything we can to protect it. “It's despicable to target families who have died. We can't let bad actors starve families,” said Senator Fetterman. “As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Nutrition Subcommittee, I am on the other side of bipartisan, bicameral legislation to modernize SNAP and stop criminals from stealing critical food assistance from working families. I'm proud to be able to work on it.”
Families across the country are having their SNAP funds stolen by scammers who exploit the lack of security in EBT cards. Abigail M. from Erie, Pennsylvania, shared her skimming experience:
“Near the beginning of August 2023, someone stole my SNAP benefits, completely emptying my account and leaving me with no regular food money for the rest of the month.”
“So what do you do when the people on the helpline aren’t helping you and you don’t have an answer as to when or if your benefits will be refunded?”
Cards like the one Abigail currently uses don't have the fraud protection chips built into bank-issued credit and debit cards. As a result, EBT cards are highly vulnerable to a type of fraud known as skimming. Skimming allows a thief to clone the card number from the magnetic stripe of a victim's card to create a duplicate card that can be used to steal the victim's girlfriend's SNAP funds.
of Strengthening Cybersecurity for the SNAP Act Addresses fraud by directing USDA to update cybersecurity regulations to ensure SNAP benefits cannot be easily stolen by criminals. Specifically, the bill would require:
- USDA issues updated regulations requiring EBT cards to include anti-fraud technology to prevent cloning. These regulations also cover mobile payments (such as tap-to-pay on smartphones) and must be updated every five years to keep pace with payment security safeguards from the private sector and federal agencies.
- With USDA funding, states will begin issuing chip-enabled EBT cards within two years of implementing the new regulations. Within four years, states will no longer be able to issue new EBT cards that include magnetic stripes. Within five years, states will be required to reissue all existing EBT cards that include magnetic stripes as chip-only cards.
- USDA will administer a grant program that will fund chip-enabled payment machine upgrades for food deserts, farmers markets, and small grocery stores in farm-to-consumer programs.
- The state requires families to be provided with a free replacement EBT card within three days if the card is stolen, cloned by a fraudster, or malfunctions.
- Countries that provide multiple accessible, reliable, and mobile-friendly user interfaces, such as smartphone apps and online web portals, for families to manage their EBT accounts.
