Oregon — The U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday designed to expand skills training and employment opportunities for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Under the agreement, the departments will coordinate efforts to more effectively connect SNAP recipients with job training programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, with the goal of helping more low-income Americans secure and maintain employment.
“Connecting more Americans with sustainable jobs is a critical responsibility of the Department of Labor,” said Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of Labor. She said the partnership is intended to streamline workforce pathways and support individuals seeking long-term self-sufficiency.
Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture, said the agreement aligns with the administration’s broader workforce agenda and complements President Donald Trump’s policy priorities, including work requirements for benefit recipients. She said the collaboration will help connect SNAP recipients to education, training, and employment opportunities while strengthening coordination between federal programs.
According to the departments, the agreement calls for developing shared strategies to help SNAP and WIOA participants access effective employment and training services, issuing guidance to states on meeting SNAP work requirements through WIOA programs, and encouraging states to pursue program flexibilities and innovations to better align services.
The departments also plan to coordinate technical assistance for states, jointly review WIOA Combined State Plans that include SNAP employment and training components, and help state agencies navigate program requirements to maximize available federal resources.
Officials said the partnership is intended to improve program efficiency while helping more low-income Americans enter, re-enter, and remain in the workforce.
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