The White House is proposing cutting wasteful government spending by delivering food boxes to welfare recipients instead of food stamps.
The food deliveries would replace about half of food stamp benefits for households that qualify for welfare.
The measure is part of President Donald Trump’s plan to cut billions of dollars in wasteful spending by selling airports and other government assets to private corporations.
Proponents of the plan say it will put thousands of low-income people to work filling and delivering the food boxes.
But critics say reducing food stamp benefits for low-income families would be detrimental and costly.
The White House plans to deliver the food boxes to welfare recipients and cutting off their food stamps beginning this year. The food boxes would contain enough nutritious food for families for a week.
But critics say that would make the government responsible for the healthy food that goes on the dinner plates of 16 million low-income families.
The food boxes would replace food stamps which sometimes go towards non-edible items such as hair weave and cigarettes.
“You actually receive the food instead of receive the cash,” White House budget director Mick Mulvaney told reporters on Monday.
The White House said the food boxes would go to households qualifying for $90 or more per month in food stamps, representing about 81 percent of those on the welfare rolls.
Stock photo by E+ / Getty Images
