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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) introduced the SNAP Anti-Theft and Victim Compensation Act of 2025, legislation to protect taxpayer dollars, expand law enforcement tools to combat fraud, and ensure families harmed by benefit theft are made whole.
In recent weeks, nearly 90 Iowans reported having their SNAP benefits stolen, including Iowa Army veteran David Schroeder, who Rep. Nunn stood with to announce this important legislation.
“Iowans like Army veteran David Schroeder shouldn’t be left picking up the pieces and fighting bureaucracy after falling victim to benefit fraud,” said Rep. Nunn. “SNAP is meant to help Iowans in need – not fraudsters gaming a broken system. David did everything right yet his SNAP benefits were still stolen by a criminal in New Jersey. This bill is a commonsense solution that makes victims whole and ensures fraudsters face real consequences.”
The SNAP Anti-Theft and Victim Compensation Act empowers the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General to investigate and coordinate multi-jurisdictional efforts to prevent cyber-enabled SNAP theft. It also authorizes states to reimburse households for stolen benefits and establishes a new civil penalty to deter criminals who exploit the system.
SNAP benefit theft is often carried out by organized cybercrime rings using cloned EBT cards, which has skyrocketed in recent years. While states like Iowa have led on fraud prevention, other states lack the tools or authority to respond swiftly. This bill would close critical gaps by allowing the Inspector General to issue subpoenas, coordinate across law enforcement agencies, and access EBT processor data during investigations.
In addition to expanded enforcement, the bill would create a civil penalty of twice the value of stolen benefits for individuals who fraudulently access another person’s SNAP allotment. Recovered funds will be used to reimburse victims and support future investigations.
Bill text can be found here.
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