WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a significant stride towards safeguarding the resources of the economically disadvantaged, three U.S. senators have risen to the challenge of combating cybercrime targeted at SNAP beneficiaries. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), Ron Wyden, (D-OR), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have jointly introduced the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act, which seeks to declaw tech-savvy criminals exploiting vulnerabilities in the SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards’ security system.
These EBT cards are the conduit through which SNAP beneficiaries access their food allocation, a vital lifeline for families on the lower rungs of the economic ladder. Tragically, the cards’ security flaws have been granting free rein to cybercriminals to defraud millions of these families.
For those unfamiliar with the term, SNAP – the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – is an essential aid program for nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians alone. The initiative to enhance the cybersecurity of these cards could not have come at a more critical time.
This bipartisan, bicameral legislation proposed by the Senators and their counterparts in the House, Congressmen Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Mike Lawler (R-NY), is not only modernizing the SNAP cards but also serves as a barrier against criminals who prey on vulnerable, working families.
The prevailing EBT card technology is outdated and alarmingly easy to hack, a sad irony at a time when the financial industry is flush with fraud-resistant chips in credit and ATM cards. The senators insist that such a situation is untenable and that the lack of action can have devastating implications for families in need.
With its provisions to stop “skimming” – a practice that involves stealing card numbers from EBT cards to clone them – the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act will bring USDA regulations up to speed. It is unacceptable, the senators argue, that families facing food insecurity should also grapple with the theft of their food benefits.
What does the act entail? For starters, it mandates USDA to revise their regulations, requiring EBT cards to be fitted with anti-fraud technology capable of thwarting cloning attempts. Furthermore, within two years of adopting these new regulatory measures, states, with USDA funding, will have to start issuing chip-enabled EBT cards. Over time, the states will have to phase out the distribution of the current EBT cards bearing magnetic stripes and replace them all with chip-only cards.
The act also takes into consideration the small grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and farm-to-consumer programs, particularly in food deserts. Funding is set aside for upgrading their payment machines to ones that are chip-capable, heightening their payment security measures.
Furthermore, states will have to provide families with no-fee replacements of EBT cards within three days should there be any issues with theft, cloning, or malfunctions. Accompanying this upgrade, states will also have to offer multiple, reliable, and accessible user interfaces, such as smartphone apps or online portals, for families to manage their EBT accounts.
In this era of rapid technological evolution, the existing EBT card system has been left in the dust. This legislative initiative to revamp the SNAP EBT cards is a testament to the government’s commitment to ensuring that the benefits intended for the neediest members of society reach them, instead of falling into the hands of criminals. The Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act is a step towards securing the financial lifelines of millions of families who rely on SNAP benefits as they navigate the challenge of food insecurity.
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