Senate Ag Committee Eliminates Over $200B in SNAP Funding

Last week, the Senate Agriculture Committee released its text for the reconciliation bill (also known as the "Big Beautiful Bill"), which includes a $220 billion cut to SNAP. While this is an improvement from the $300 billion cut in the House bill, it is still a dramatic change that will impact each state differently.

What’s in it?

The text shifts some cost of SNAP benefits to states starting in 2028:

• States with 6-8% error rates will pay 5% of benefits
• States with 8-10% error rates will pay 10% of benefits
• States with >10% error rates will pay 15% of benefits

The text increases work requirements for SNAP participants:

• Adults without children must work from 18-64 years old
• Adults with children over 10 years old must work

It also:

• Increases state share of SNAP administrative costs from 50% to 75%
• Makes Thrifty Food Plan updates budget-neutral moving forward but still allows for inflationary increases
• Ends internet and energy bill loopholes
• Ends the SNAP-Ed program
• Includes $70 billion in agriculture provisions from the Farm Bill, which are being covered by the SNAP cuts making a future Farm Bill nearly impossible

What’s next: This bill will go to the Senate floor for amendments in a voterama. Then it will head back to the House for approval. NGA is continuing to advocate for improvements to the text and will keep you updated.

SNAP By the Numbers

SNAP is the nation’s largest federal nutrition program, providing access to food for approximately 42 million Americans while supporting over 388,000 American jobs.

However, despite being highly effective and efficient, the House has passed a bill that would cut the program by 25%, which is now in the hands of the Senate, which is planning to cut the program by 20%.

Independent grocers feed American families and power local economies. SNAP is a sound, effective investment in both.