The ban would further stigmatize families who rely on the program to put food on the table
Vermont Business Magazine Today, Treasurer Pieciak issued the following statement in response to the Scott Administration seeking federal approval to restrict Vermonters from using 3SquaresVT to purchase undefined “junk food” items.
“My mom spent more than 40 years working to feed the poor in Brattleboro and helping families get back on their feet. She always told me: the food matters, but dignity matters just as much.
"When families are going through hard times, the last thing they need is the government taking away their choices and judging their decisions.
"We all want healthier communities, but many families face inconsistent access to affordable healthy food—depending on where they live, how they get to the store, and what their local store carries. The way to get there is by making healthy food more affordable and accessible—not by taking dignity away from people who are already doing their best to get by. This change won’t make anyone healthier, but it will make life harder for Vermonters.”
About 67,000 Vermonters rely on 3SquaresVT, Vermont’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The state’s request follows a recent initiative from the Trump administration encouraging states to limit use of SNAP benefits to “healthy” foods. The order did not offer guidance on which foods would no longer qualify, creating confusion and leaving states like Vermont to establish and enforce their own eligibility standards.
Evidence that such a ban would lead to improved health outcomes is widely disputed.
The National Grocers Association estimates that “junk food” restrictions could lose food retailers billions in revenue—costs that would likely be passed to consumers through higher prices. The requirements would also limit food access in rural communities, where options, particularly for healthy foods, are fewer and further apart.
In addition to being costly and ineffective, a “junk food” ban would further stigmatize families who rely on the program to put food on the table.
Pieciak emphasized, “This order from the Trump administration has nothing to do with making Americans healthier—it's about dismantling SNAP, causing families shame at checkout, and making it harder for them to access food. In Vermont, we can be better than this and choose a different path—one that is true to our values, supports healthier communities, and treats our neighbors with the dignity they deserve.”
2.9.2026. Montpelier, VT – Treasurer
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