FNS Issues Q&A Addressing SNAP-Ed Closeout
As the end is in sight for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) program, many questions remain for state agencies operating the program. In response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) recently issued a SNAP-Ed questions and answers (Q&A) document addressing closeout procedures.
Established by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, SNAP-Ed provides evidence-based nutrition education and obesity prevention to SNAP participants and other eligible low-income individuals. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (Pub. L. 119-21) ended required funding of SNAP-Ed with the fiscal year (FY) 2025 grant allocation. SNAP-Ed brought nutrition education directly to around 2 million low-income Americans annually, and to another 10 million through community collaborations, and some advocates are concerned that the end of the program will mean the loss of over 12,000 jobs.
Among the questions in the Q&A, one addressed what state agencies should do with equipment and items purchased under the program upon closeout. It explains that states may use such equipment and items if there is a need for such property to accomplish the purpose of the program. When no longer needed, states may use the property where needed in the administration of other programs in the following order of priority: (1) other FNS-funded programs; (2) other USDA-funded programs; and (3) other federal funded programs. If the state no longer needs the equipment and its acquisition cost was less than $5,000, a state may use or dispose of it independently. If the acquisition cost was $5,000 or more, states should contact their SNAP-Ed regional coordinator to ensure they comply with FNS regulations regarding the property's use or disposition.
Another question asked whether states can use unobligated SNAP-Ed funds to pay for unused leave and severance pay for program staff terminated in response to the discontinuation of SNAP-Ed funds. FNS explained that the costs of leave are included in fringe benefits, in addition to employee insurance, pensions and unemployment benefits (§200.431(a)). It noted that this applies if the fringe benefits provisions in §200.431(b) are met — (1) they are provided under established written policies; (2) they are equitably allocated to all related activities, including federal awards; and (3) the accounting basis (cash or accrual) selected for costing each type of leave is consistently followed by the recipient or subrecipient severance pay, also commonly referred to as dismissal wages, is allowable only to the extent that it is required by law, an employer-employee agreement, an established policy that constitutes an implied agreement, or circumstances of the particular employment (§200.431(i)).
In response to a question asking how states discontinuing SNAP-Ed should close out invoices for and payments for SNAP-Ed activities performed in FY 2025, FNS said that according to regulations at 7 C.F.R. §277.16(d), the state must liquidate all financial obligations incurred no later than 90 calendar days after the conclusion of the period of performance. The period of performance for FY 2025 SNAP-Ed funding is Oct 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2026. An implementing agency (i.e., subrecipient) must liquidate all financial obligations incurred under a subaward no later than 90 calendar days after the conclusion of the subaward’s period of performance.
The Q&A also addressed questions related to travel, documentation and web hosting of nutritional information.
States should continue to stay abreast of any further information FNS releases on the closeout of this program to ensure compliance with applicable requirements.
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