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APHSA continues to advance our work to support human services leaders across the country. We recently updated our Strategic Playbook, which outlines how we are advancing our mission and priorities in the year ahead—we invite you to explore it and learn more about our work.
Continue below for the latest developments in Washington impacting human services.
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House Passes Farm Bill with SNAP Policy and Oversight Provisions
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) by a vote of 224 - 200, advancing the latest version of the Farm Bill to the Senate for consideration. The legislation includes several Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) related provisions, including expanded flexibility for states to use non-merit staff, making the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot permanent, directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to advance rulemaking on Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card security, and requiring USDA reports on all identified payment errors, including those below the tolerance threshold, as well as administrative cost drivers.
Amendments adopted during House consideration included a requirement for USDA to submit a report to Congress following completion of SNAP restriction pilots outlining implementation, outcomes, and recommendations to Congress, as well as an amendment adding hot rotisserie chicken as an eligible item for purchase with SNAP benefits.
The bill extends SNAP through September 30, 2031, and expands eligibility for nutrition incentives. The Senate is expected to consider the Farm Bill legislation later this summer.
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DHS Partially Funded as Congress Prepares Additional Package for ICE and Border Patrol
Congress passed the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7147) to fund the majority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with the exception of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol. The President has signed the bill into law, ensuring continued operations for DHS agencies impacted by the partial government shutdown, excluding ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol.
Building on our update regarding last week’s Senate passage of a budget blueprint resolution, the House voted to approve the resolution, allowing work to proceed on a package to fund ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol. Committees in both the Senate and House are expected to submit budget reconciliation language by May 15 in order to meet majority leadership goals to pass final legislation and fund ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol by June 1.
The House also committed to continue work on an additional reconciliation package (“Reconciliation 3.0”) in an effort to pass additional priorities.
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House Committee on Ways and Means Advances Chafee Modernization Package
The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee has advanced a bipartisan package of six bills to modernize the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program, marking the most significant update to the program since its creation. The legislation focuses on improving outcomes for the roughly 16,000 youth who age out of foster care each year by strengthening coordination with housing programs, expanding education and workforce training opportunities, increasing access to legal services, and enhancing supports for parenting youth. The package was developed with input from young people with lived experience and backed by broad national support including APHSA and its affinity group, the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators (NAPCWA).
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House Committee on Education and the Workforce Advances WIOA Reauthorization Bill
The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce recently voted to advance the Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026 (H.R. 8210) to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). In addition to reauthorizing WIOA, the current bill includes updates to workforce system alignment efforts, program accountability expectations, and initiatives to expand and streamline service delivery. Following this committee vote, the next step would be consideration by the full House of Representatives, although it has not yet been scheduled.
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Latest on Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations
Earlier this week, the House Appropriations Committee voted (35–25) to advance its Agriculture appropriations bill for FY 2027. The bill includes standard funding for SNAP but notably reduces fruit and vegetable benefits under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The Labor-HHS-Education bill is scheduled for subcommittee markup on Friday, June 5, and full committee markup on Tuesday, June 9.
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USDA Announces Intent to Reorganize Food and Nutrition Service
USDA announced its intention to reorganize its structure of support to nutrition assistance programs as overseen by the current Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), including plans to rename FNS as the Food and Nutrition Administration. The proposed changes aim to improve customer service, strengthen oversight, and reduce administrative complexity by shifting operations away from a regional office structure and into regional hubs while maintaining a smaller presence in Washington, D.C. for policy and coordination functions. In the proposed regional hub model, for example, all SNAP functions would move to Indianapolis, IN and child nutrition would move to Dallas, TX.
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USDA Seeks Comment on SNAP Certification and Reporting Data Used for Program Oversight
USDA is requesting public comment on a proposed information collection covering state-reported SNAP certification, recertification, and household data used for program administration and quality control oversight. Comments are due by June 29, 2026.
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USDA Extends Comment Period on SNAP Quality Control Reporting Updates
USDA has extended the public comment period on proposed revisions to the FNS-380-1 reporting form used by states to track SNAP accuracy and error rates. Comments are now due by June 29, 2026.
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OFA Releases Data on Characteristics of TANF Families
The Office of Family Assistance (OFA), an office of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), released FY 2024 data on the characteristics and financial circumstances of TANF recipients, offering national and state-level insights into demographics, employment, and household composition. The data provide a snapshot of who TANF serves and how families engage with the program.
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ACF Streamlines APSR Requirements
ACF released updated guidance for the FY 2026 Annual Progress and Services Report (APSR), introducing a major shift toward brevity and usability. Citing lengthy, complex reports that have historically limited impact, the Children’s Bureau is now directing states and tribes to submit APSRs of five pages or fewer, focused on key priorities, progress, and challenges.
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New AFCARS Dashboard Enhancements
ACF released preliminary FY 2025 data through its updated Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) Dashboard, introducing new features that provide greater visibility into children’s pathways to adoption and guardianship. Enhancements include the ability to view prior foster care relationships and the marital status of adoptive or guardian parents, offering more nuanced insights into permanency outcomes.
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Child Care and TANF Administration: Working in a Changing Landscape
Presented by Public Consulting Group (PCG), APHSA Strategic Industry Partner
May 7 | 2:00pm ET
| Federal child care and TANF policies are evolving quickly, creating new responsibilities and opportunities for state administrators. This session will bring Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and TANF leaders together to examine the most significant shifts shaping the human services sector—including the extended CCDF waiver period, 2026 PDG B‑5 state activities, and the heightened national focus on child care subsidy integrity and fraud prevention. | |
Strengthening Integrity in Child Care Subsidy Programs: Addressing Fraud Risk Through Design, Not Disruption
Presented by Vimo®, APHSA Strategic Industry Partner
June 4 | 1:30pm ET
| Recent scrutiny has intensified focus on fraud and improper payments in child care subsidy programs, raising concerns about payments made without services delivered. This webinar examines where fraud risks typically arise and how states can address them without limiting access for families or providers. The discussion also emphasizes strengthening oversight without increasing administrative burden and what recent federal and state attention means for the future of Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program integrity. | |
EMWB Impact Award for Excellence in Human Services Nominations Now Open
| Each year at the Economic Mobility and Well-Being (EMWB) Conference, we recognize state and local human services agencies that make a meaningful, measurable difference in their communities with the EMWB Impact Award for Excellence in Human Services. Be sure to submit your nomination(s) by Friday, June 12. | |
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