As the deadline approaches for potential cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), millions of Americans brace for a crisis that could lead to widespread food insecurity. Starting November 1, funding for SNAP is poised to be slashed dramatically. This dramatic shift would impact almost 42 million individuals who rely on this vital assistance to feed their households. The potential impacts of these cuts would be devastating – hitting hard on working families and other vulnerable populations.
Brittany, a 38-year-old mother of three, is one real American who counts on SNAP benefits to help feed her family. That’s because she works 35 to 40 hours a week as a home health nurse. Even after that, she can’t afford to get by. The typical SNAP recipient only gets an average of $187 a month, money Brittany stretches to cover most essential items each month. “So I just pay cash for the other ones,” she clarifies, stressing how important SNAP funds are for her family’s bottom line.
SNAP is a critical support for working families with low-paying jobs. It helps low-income over 60’s and people with disabilities living on fixed incomes. To be eligible, participants usually have to make at or under 130% of the federal poverty level. For Brittany, these benefits have made all the difference in helping her meet her financial obligations. Her world turned upside down when she lost her SNAP benefits. This was the result of silly and cruel timing—her income had temporarily risen due to a recent promotion during that same period.
Sara Carlson strongly agrees with what Brittany says. Two decades ago, as a newly single mom to three kids, she drew from the same federal food assistance program that’s now facing cuts. She knows firsthand the struggle families face every day to ensure their children get the nutrition they need to succeed in school and beyond. “SNAP supports people like me during tough times,” she states.
So too has the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which have slashed almost $187 billion in funding for SNAP. The impact of this cut will extend into 2024. As a result, cuts to SNAP future very far down the road, and advocates and lawmakers have been sounding alarms. Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, warns that if funding runs out, “we will have the greatest hunger catastrophe in America since the Great Depression, and I don’t say that as hyperbole.” As he points out, the human cost would be catastrophic for the millions who rely on them to make ends meet.
Democratic congressional leaders are acting to preempt the coming cuts. They’ve called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use emergency reserves and maintain SNAP benefits. They implore that Congress take quick action so families don’t find themselves cut off from critical food assistance when November arrives. “There are clear steps the administration can and must take immediately to ensure that millions of families across the country can put food on their table in November,” they wrote in a letter to the USDA.
Brittany describes what if the worst case scenario— losing all SNAP benefits —would look like for her life. If funding were to be cut off, she further explains that she would be forced to work weekends in order to make up for the lack of funds. This change would give her “hardly any time with my children,” adding insult to an already painful injury.
As negotiations over government funding rage on, advocates and policy experts are calling for action, lest millions of working families be thrust into economic crisis. Berg stated, “this has grave repercussions for the people we represent.” The gravity of the moment is felt as all stakeholders push for short-term answers to prevent a further humanitarian catastrophe.
Right now, as November approaches, localities from Bainbridge to Buffalo are closely watching the negotiations around SNAP funding. These potential cuts would put the health and safety of families like Brittany’s on the chopping block. They shine a light on bigger issues related to poverty and food insecurity in the US.