A legislative reform proposed by Republicans in the House of Representatives could unleash the biggest food crisis in the United States in decades. The bill proposes a 30% cut to the SNAP program budget, also known as “food stamps”, amounting to a total reduction of $300 billion by 2034.
This historic cut not only means less funding for food assistance: refugees, asylum seekers, TPS recipients, individuals with humanitarian parole, trafficking victims, and other groups with humanitarian status would be directly excluded from accessing food stamps. They would also lose access to programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and educational assistance. The measure also includes higher fees for immigration procedures and a new policy that would force families to pay for the detention of their own children, making family reunification more difficult.
The following groups would lose access to SNAP under the proposal:
In contrast, only the following groups would retain access to SNAP:
However, even for these groups, the rules will become stricter: work requirements will be tightened for people aged 55 to 64 and families with children over 7 years old, eliminating many of the current exemptions, even in areas with high unemployment.
The cuts would mean families lose an average of $254 per month in food assistance. For households with children, the impact would be even greater: $229 less per month.
Starting in 2028, a projected 5% to 25% reduction in federal funding would force states to cover costs that have historically been covered by the federal government. Experts warn that many states are not equipped to sustain these programs, which could lead to the partial or total elimination of SNAP in certain areas.
The impact would not be limited to households: rural communities and small businesses would also suffer. In areas where SNAP represents a fundamental part of the local economy, reducing the program could be catastrophic for the economic fabric.
While assistance for the most vulnerable is cut, the proposal allocates an additional $110 billion to ICE to expand its detention capacity, including the possibility of indefinitely detaining entire families. In addition, another $90 billion would be used to reinforce the militarization of the border.
The contrast is clear: less food for those who need it most, more funds for mass arrests and deportations.