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States are delaying the implementation of new work requirements for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program as they await guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which could impact millions of beneficiaries, experts say.Ed Bolen from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said, "We're not aware of any states that are implementing it right now. They're all waiting, even just for a simple memo. They need a sense of what they're supposed to do. Typically, when a law passes, USDA gives states guidance on how to carry it out. In this case, the law is in effect now, but states don't know whether to open old cases, wait until recertification, or how to apply the new rules. That's why they're waiting for guidance."Under the new GOP law, adults who previously qualified aged 55 to 64 and with children over the age of 14 must work at least 20 hours a week, or 80 hours a month to continue receiving food benefits.The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that 3.5 million people nationwide are at risk of losing some SNAP benefits due to these new requirements. Additionally, a study by the Commonwealth Fund suggests that reduced spending on food assistance could result in at least 100,000 jobs lost across the country.Republicans argue that the new requirements will incentivize able-bodied adults to return to and remain in the workforce.Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in an opinion piece, "Welfare should be a helping hand, not a pathway to lifelong dependency. With over 4 million jobs available across the country, SNAP work requirements will restore dignity through work." The Congressional Budget Office projects that the SNAP changes will cut $186 billion in federal spending over the next decade.