NASHVILLE, Tenn. (OSBORNE) -- Nashville Mayor David Briley is protesting the Trump administration’s effort to change eligibility rules for federal food aid.
Briley joined more than 70 other city leadersfrom across the country in signing a letter opposing the change.
In late July, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue proposed rules changes that would reduce the number of Americans eligible to receive what’s commonly referred to as food stamps.
Perdue says the change is intended to close a "loophole" that states have misused to "effectively bypass important eligibility guidelines."
In their letter, Briley and his fellow mayors contend that more than 3 million people could lose their food benefits if the new rules take effect.
Federal officials have opened a public comment period on the change that will end in late September.