Media Contact:
Jordan Baker
jbaker@frac.org
202-640-1118
WASHINGTON, March 6, 2025 – The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) and more than 1,800 national, state, and local organizations from every state in the country signed on to a letter urging Congress to reject any proposals that would cut or weaken the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the child nutrition programs. The letter underscores the critical role SNAP plays in helping tens of millions of people put food on the table and how SNAP goes beyond food assistance, including supporting health and boosting the economy.
“SNAP is one of the most effective programs we have to combat poverty-related hunger, improve health outcomes, and boost local economies,” said Crystal FitzSimons, interim president of FRAC. “Any cut to benefits or reduced access to participation will have serious consequences for children, older adults, people with disabilities, and those living in rural areas who rely on this support to put food on the table.”
Proposals to cut SNAP are part of efforts to pass a budget reconciliation package, with both the House and Senate directing Congressional Committees to cut billions of dollars from programs within their jurisdictions. This includes $230 billion in cuts from the House Agriculture Committee, which has jurisdiction over SNAP, and $330 billion in cuts from the House Education and the Workforce Committee, which has jurisdiction over school meals. Billions of dollars in program cuts are being proposed in exchange for funding tax relief for the wealthy and large corporations.
SNAP is the nation’s first line of defense against hunger for struggling households in every state. Studies show that access to SNAP improves students’ test scores, improves birth outcomes, and lowers health care costs. Despite its many strengths, the average SNAP benefit hovers around $6 per person per day.
Every dollar spent on SNAP generates up to $1.80 in economic activity during economic downturns. Cuts to the program would not only harm families in need but the impact would ripple through local economies — from farms to grocery stores — resulting in job losses and reduced revenue. Rural areas and the South, where food insecurity rates often exceed national averages, would be particularly hard hit. Charities, food pantries, and local municipalities are not equipped to handle the increased need, because for every meal that a food bank provides, SNAP provides nine.
SNAP also provides a direct link to free school meals and the Summer EBT Program, which means cuts would cause some children to fall through the cracks. And the proposed cuts to school meals would further limit access leading to increased food insecurity among children throughout the school year and during the summer. FRAC warns that any reduction in benefits could push more children into food insecurity, negatively affecting their health and success at school.
“The long-term consequences of food insecurity extend far beyond the dinner table. With so much at stake, lawmakers must reject any proposals that would cut, gut, or weaken SNAP and school meals. Taking from these programs to give to the richest people and corporations in America is unacceptable. Adopting this budget will leave families and communities struggling for many years to come,” said FitzSimons.
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Editor’s note: FRAC will hold a SNAP Challenge, March 18–20, to highlight the difficulty of affording an adequate diet on the average SNAP benefit and why Congress must strengthen this proven program, not weaken it.
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 X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.
