On Friday, May 27, the Trump administration released further details of its fiscal year 2026 budget. Overall, the plan cuts $168 billion in federal spending. While this plan is just a proposal, Congress will consider this proposal in their work to pass a budget before funding expires at the end of September.
Over 900 advocates from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for the Food Research & Action Center’s (FRAC) annual National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference (AHPC). The conference began with workshops covering the basics of federal nutrition programs, hunger in higher education, and preparations for the conference’s Lobby Day visits with congressional Members on Capitol Hill.
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the unprecedented approval of waivers allowing Nebraska, Iowa, and Indiana to restrict Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases. While details for Iowa and Indiana remain pending, Nebraska’s waiver bans soda and energy drinks starting January 1, 2026. Touted by supporters as a historic health measure under the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda, the policy is anything but. In truth, MAHA might more accurately stand for “Make America Hungrier Again.” These waivers mark a dangerous step toward dismantling SNAP.
Local leaders from across the country — including Ohio, Massachusetts, California, and Texas — are sounding the alarm about the dire consequences of proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These mayors, city councilmembers, and municipal officials stress that SNAP is not just a safety net for vulnerable residents — it’s a critical economic driver and stabilizing force for entire communities.
House Agriculture Republicans advanced a damaging budget reconciliation bill this week on a party-line vote of 29–25, including an estimated $300 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade. These cuts follow demands from President Trump for a “big, beautiful bill” — one that prioritizes billionaires and Wall Street over working families and local communities.