ATLANTA ( InvestigateTV) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suspects taxpayer dollars stolen from government food assistance accounts are severely underreported, estimating the real number reaches about $12 billion annually.

In an update Friday morning, Gov. Gavin Newsom said some CalFresh recipients have received funds as a result of a federal judge’s order. There are 5.5 million state residents in the CalFresh food program, which is California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.

In a memo released on Friday, the USDA said it will comply with a recent court ruling ordering the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP benefits in November.

The SNAP Equal Treatment Rule prevents retailers from treating food stamp customers differently, but using it in this way appears to be unprecedented.

You may have seen posts on social media recommending people turn to another USDA food program called TEFAP for food assistance. But what you need to know is that TEFAP doesn’t work the same way as SNAP benefits.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island on Friday ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service to issue full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for roughly 42 million low-income Americans.

The agency cited fairness rules in an email to grocers—but the move is drawing scrutiny as millions face reduced aid.

The USDA sent a letter to Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly demanding the state improve its processing of SNAP benefits applications. Kansas has failed to meet federal benchmarks for years, with both the Trump and Biden administrations raising concerns. The USDA ...