Opposition to Proposed Cuts to SNAP Benefits: National Organizations Speak Out

National, State and Local Organizations Join Forces to Oppose Cuts to SNAP Benefits in Farm Bill

A coalition of 1,422 national, state, and local organizations representing communities across the United States has sent a joint letter to Congressional leaders opposing any Farm Bill that proposes cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This includes planned restrictions to future Thrifty Food Plan benefits, which could result in nearly $30 billion in cuts over the next decade.

The Thrifty Food Plan is one of four food plans developed by the USDA to estimate the cost of a healthy diet across various price points. SNAP benefits are updated annually based on the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan in June. Some House Republicans, including House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson, have expressed a desire to freeze the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan, a move that critics argue could weaken the program’s ability to meet its core mission.

The coalition’s letter, signed by organizations such as the Alliance to End Hunger, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, emphasizes the need to protect SNAP participants’ autonomy in how they use their benefits to meet their cultural, dietary, and health needs.

Despite rising rates of hunger and evidence that the current cost of nutritious meals exceeds SNAP benefits in 98% of U.S. counties, some Congressional Republicans have entertained the idea of cutting funding to federal nutrition programs. Advocates argue that strengthening SNAP and other assistance programs is essential to ensuring that millions of Americans can access the nutrition they need to thrive.

Local aid organizations, like food banks, are already feeling the strain of increased demand amid rising inflation. For every meal provided by a food bank, SNAP provides nine, highlighting the program’s critical role in addressing food insecurity.

Advocates warn that any attempt to freeze or roll back the Thrifty Food Plan would have a significant negative impact on families’ nutrition and overall well-being. They stress that SNAP is the nation’s first line of defense against hunger and call for bipartisan efforts to strengthen the program rather than weaken it.

The full letter opposing cuts to SNAP benefits in the Farm Bill can be found on the Food Research Action Committee’s website.