H.R. 2811 — SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of 2025

This section establishes SNAP staffing flexibility by authorizing State agencies to hire contractors, notwithstanding merit-based staffing requirements in section 11(e)(6)(B), to perform household certification or other Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) functions at reasonable cost under standard State contracting rules when facing application surges or processing delays from causes including pandemics, seasonal workforce cycles, temporary staffing shortages, or natural disasters. Contractors are prohibited from having incentives to delay or deny eligibility or financial interests in approved retail stores; States must ensure contracting complies with federal procurement standards (5 CFR 900.603), uses a blended workforce without supplanting merit staff, and notify USDA with supporting data (which USDA publishes online within 10 days); USDA must submit annual reports to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees on related measures, data, and recommendations; and for temporary shortages, the authority expires upon backlog elimination without overriding collective bargaining agreements.