Washington, July 24 (RHC)-- The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a plan to limit food stamp eligibility that would cut about 3.1 million people from the aid program, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The Trump administration aims to cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility for people who already receive federal and state aid, USDA officials said.  "Some states are taking advantage of loopholes that allow people to receive the SNAP benefits who would otherwise not qualify and for which they are not entitled,” Perdue told reporters on a conference call.

Currently, families who already receive federal assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program automatically qualify for food support.  Food stamps benefit some 40 million Americans, or about 12% of the total population.  Experts say the new rule would overwhelmingly affect working families, older Americans and people with disabilities.

The Center For American Progress advocacy group said the proposal would hurt the poor “by forcing states to take food assistance away from those with even modest savings of a few thousand dollars,” and raise administrative costs for states.

In 2016, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said there were concerns the move would eliminate benefits for households in difficult financial situations and increase the complexity and time needed to process SNAP applications.