Media Contact:
Jordan Baker
jbaker@frac.org
202-640-1118
Statement attributable to Crystal FitzSimons, interim president, Food Research & Action Center
WASHINGTON, January 17, 2025 — As inauguration day quickly approaches, the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) is calling on the Trump administration and the incoming Congress to safeguard the federal nutrition programs, emphasizing that proposals to cut funding for vital resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would have devastating consequences for people’s health, the economy, and communities across the nation.
There are 47 million people in this country — more than 13 million of them children and over 5 million of them older adults — living in households struggling with hunger. Without SNAP, which helps over 42 million people put food on the table, hunger in this country could be far, far worse.
SNAP, as our nation’s first line of defense against hunger, has the broadest reach. The program provides access to nutritious food for tens of millions of people, the majority of whom are children, older adults, and people with disabilities. In 2023 alone, SNAP lifted 6.6 million people out of poverty.
Despite SNAP’s many strengths, some Republicans in Congress have proposed weakening the program, even though benefits are inadequate. The average benefit hovers around a mere $6 per person per day.
These cuts cannot happen. Now is not the time to turn back on the progress that has been made in the fight against hunger.
Without adequate SNAP benefits, millions of households risk increased food insecurity, which is closely linked to poor health outcomes such as malnutrition, chronic disease, and mental health challenges. Health care costs would likely surge as at-risk populations would face worsening health.
SNAP is not just a lifeline for individuals but a critical economic stimulus. Every $1 spent on SNAP generates up to $1.80 in economic activity during an economic downturn, supporting local businesses and farmers. Cuts to the program would not only harm families in need but also ripple through local economies, resulting in job losses and reduced revenue in grocery stores and agricultural sectors.
Rural areas and the south, where food insecurity rates often exceed national averages, would be particularly hard-hit by any SNAP cuts. Cutting funding for this program would exacerbate poverty and economic challenges in these regions.
By preserving and enhancing SNAP, Congress can help ensure that families have the resources they need to thrive and that our communities and country become even stronger.
Ending hunger in America is an issue that we can all agree on, and all of us must act on by protecting and strengthening proven solutions. FRAC stands ready to work with the incoming administration and Congress to build a nation free from hunger.
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The Food Research & Action Center improves the nutrition, health, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, and by advancing bold and equitable policy solutions. To learn more, visit FRAC.org and follow us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.
