Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced that, following negotiations with the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will delay the start of enforcement of a new rule requiring SNAP-authorized retailers to meet expanded stocking standards. Although the rule was originally required to be implemented Nov. 4, the 90-day extension gives bodegas and small retailers across the country additional time to comply.
"When hundreds of bodegas came to our administration asking for help, we stood with them. These neighborhood businesses are the backbone of our small business economy and an essential source of affordable food for more than one million New Yorkers - and 36 million Americans - who rely on SNAP," said Mayor Mamdani. "Without more time, many of these stores risked losing the ability to accept SNAP - threatening their livelihoods and making it harder for families to put food on the table. I am grateful that President Trump has agreed to delay beginning enforcement of this rule, and we will continue fighting to protect our neighborhood businesses and the New Yorkers who depend on them."
"When we met with bodega owners at City Hall last month, we heard from them directly about how they wanted to comply with the new federal rule, but that they didn't have the resources, the guidance or the time to do so," said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. "We told them we would fight for them and we meant it. Now this extension gives them a welcome reprieve and time to make these changes. Our smallest businesses are a foundational part of our administration's commitment to economic justice. We will continue to engage with bodegas across our city to build a city for all."
"In response to federal changes putting thousands at risk of losing their SNAP benefits, our administration has made unprecedented strides to ensure nobody in New York City goes hungry. We knocked 10,000 doors, connected with New Yorkers through 40,000 calls and established resources to help those affected navigate the new rules," said Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. "Today's announcement is an important step toward keeping nutritious food accessible to vulnerable New Yorkers. We look forward to continuing to work with our federal partners to protect New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity."
"Bodega owners keep asking us the same questions: which products count, where to buy them, and where to put them," said SBS Commissioner Kenny Minaya. "This extension will give bodegas more time to learn about the rule and get into compliance. Our administration is committed to supporting all small businesses with free compliance education through our expanded NYC Business Express Service Team program. We encourage any bodega owner with questions to call us at 888-SBS-4NYC."
"This Administration understands that running a bodega today isn't easy. Between rising costs, changing federal regulations and the everyday challenges of running a small business - our bodegas have a lot on their plates," said Mom and Pop Czar Delia Awusi. "Today's announcement of a 90-day extension of the compliance deadline will be met with a sense of relief by many of our bodega owners. It gives them some much-needed breathing room to prepare for these changes."
Today's announcement comes one week after Mayor Mamdani publicly called on the USDA to delay enforcement of the rule on behalf of hundreds of New York City bodega owners and convenience store retailers. Business owners had warned that they needed more time to understand the requirements, secure qualifying products and make necessary investments.
The City will work closely with USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to reach store owners, provide guidance and ensure they have the support needed to meet the new requirements before enforcement begins.
The USDA's final rule requires SNAP-authorized retailers to meet expanded stocking standards, including offering at least seven varieties of food in each of four categories: dairy, grains, proteins and fruits and vegetables. The USDA did not issue implementation guidance until Sept. 4, leaving businesses with just two months to meet the new requirements.
Without adequate time, neighborhood stores and bodegas risked losing their ability to accept SNAP, threatening the viability of businesses that rely on the program for a significant share of their sales. Bodega organizations estimate that SNAP purchases account for 15-20% of a typical New York City store's sales, with some Bronx owners reporting figures as high as 30%.
The loss of neighborhood SNAP retailers would leave New Yorkers with fewer places to buy groceries and deepen existing food deserts in the city. Combined with the new federal work requirements, enforcement of the stocking rule threatened to create additional barriers for New Yorkers who rely on SNAP to feed themselves and their families. The 90-day delay gives these essential neighborhood businesses more time to comply while continuing to serve their communities.
Earlier this year, Mayor Mamdani launched an unprecedented citywide outreach campaign to help New Yorkers navigate sweeping federal changes to public benefits, including SNAP and Medicaid. Since January, the administration has knocked on 10,000 doors, made 40,000 person-to-person phone calls and launched an online resource, NYC.gov/workrules, to help New Yorkers understand the changes and how they may be affected.
Through these efforts, the City has assisted more than 220,000 New Yorkers at risk of losing SNAP benefits. More than 98% of eligible SNAP recipients in New York City have maintained access to food assistance.
"I am very grateful for Mayor Mamdani's continuous fight to save the SNAP program as we know it and to ensure that millions of New Yorkers, including our treasured seniors continue to have access to life-sustaining nutrition through this program. I hope that we can build upon this momentum to not only preserve the SNAP program but expand it for Seniors in the very near term," said State Senator Cordell Cleare, Chair of the Senate Aging Committee.
"I have made protecting access to food a priority because families should not lose convenient places to use their SNAP benefits because neighborhood stores cannot meet new federal requirements on an unreasonable timeline. In my district, bodegas are an essential part of our communities, particularly for residents who rely on nearby stores to buy everyday groceries. The USDA's new stocking requirements threatened the ability of thousands of bodegas to accept SNAP, putting small businesses and food access at risk. I am proud that our advocacy secured a 90-day extension for New York City bodegas, giving these neighborhood businesses more time to meet the requirements and continue serving the families who depend on them. I will continue fighting to ensure our neighborhood businesses can serve our communities and families can access the food they need," said Assembly Member and Senator-elect Jessica González-Rojas.
"In neighborhoods like Corona and East Elmhurst, bodegas are more than small businesses. They are lifelines for working families, seniors, and neighbors who depend on them to put food on the table," said Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry, Chair of the Committee on Small Business. "This 90-day extension is a critical victory for our small businesses and the millions of New Yorkers who rely on SNAP. I applaud Mayor Mamdani and his administration for securing this agreement."
"I commend Mayor Mamdani for his leadership in securing a 90-day extension of the new federal SNAP retailer requirements and recognizing the serious implications these changes could have for neighborhood businesses and the families they serve," said Council Member Amanda Farías, Chair of the Committee on Women and Gender Equity and Co-Chair of the Bronx Delegation. "In many Bronx neighborhoods, the local bodega is one of the most accessible places to buy groceries, for our seniors, working parents, and residents who depend on SNAP benefits. We cannot expect small business owners to navigate these new federal requirements without adequate time and guidance, especially when their ability to accept SNAP seriously impacts whether families can continue shopping close to home. This extension provides an important opportunity to help these businesses prepare and comply without disrupting food access for the communities that rely on them. I look forward to working with the administration to ensure that opportunity is not wasted."
"My community relies on SNAP for their basic needs and nutrition. Any barrier to accessing those benefits puts New Yorkers at risk. This policy in particular discriminates against our small business economy. New Yorkers deserve access to food. It is a matter of basic safety, health, and dignity. I am grateful that the Mayor has fought for this extension to this new rule that will allow for more New Yorkers to access SNAP benefits at local bodegas," said Council Member Alexa Avilés.
"Our city's bodegas are the hearts of our neighborhoods, places where New Yorkers go to pick up essentials and chat with their local bodega owner. For many New Yorkers living in food deserts, the only place to buy food staples is their local bodega. Yet the aggressive timeline of the Trump administration's recent stocking standards for SNAP-authorized retailers threatened to eliminate SNAP eligibility for many of these neighborhood gems. I'm grateful to Mayor Mamdani for negotiating an agreement with the federal government to extend the deadline by 90 days, giving our city's small grocers more time to ensure they comply and order any necessary products from their suppliers," said Council Member Crystal Hudson.
"In the same way bodegas meet New Yorkers where they are, at any hour and on any block in our city, our government must do the same as we navigate this affordability crisis. This agreement proves that when we put people before politics and focus on delivering results, we can find common ground across the political spectrum and make government work like it's supposed to," said Council Member Justin E. Sanchez.
