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.
Summer EBT, in conjunction with the traditional summer meals programs, provides key nutrition support to children from households with low incomes when school is out, by providing families with approximately $120 on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card per summer per eligible child to help with food costs during the summer months. Summer EBT is a method proven to decrease food insecurity and improve nutrition. This summer, 37 states and the District of Columbia, five territories, and five Tribal organizations have opted to participate in the program.