A sweeping proposal aims to recalibrate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), reshaping how billions of dollars in federal spending are allocated. The initiative seeks to transfer more financial responsibility to states, enforce stricter work requirements for recipients, and potentially reduce future aid amounts. While this legislation passed narrowly in the House, it remains under scrutiny in the Senate. Key aspects include altering SNAP's cost-sharing structure and expanding work mandates, which could affect millions of beneficiaries.
This legislative overhaul would modify SNAP by increasing state contributions, broadening work obligations, and capping inflation-linked benefits growth. It also targets reductions in aid for certain immigrant groups. These changes aim to cut $295 billion from SNAP over a decade, primarily through cost redistribution and participation decreases. Work requirements would expand to older age brackets and some parents with young children, impacting an estimated 3.2 million fewer monthly participants.
Realigning State Responsibilities
The proposed legislation significantly alters how states manage SNAP costs, shifting administrative and food benefit burdens. States would bear three-quarters of administrative expenses and contribute a portion of food aid starting in fiscal year 2028. Payment error rates would determine additional state liabilities, ranging from 5% to 25%, depending on accuracy levels. This adjustment anticipates reduced or eliminated benefits for some individuals due to increased state financial strain.
Under the new framework, states face substantial increases in their financial commitment to SNAP. They must cover at least 5% of food assistance costs, escalating based on payment errors. Only three states currently meet the lowest error threshold, signaling potential widespread budgetary impacts. As states grapple with these added responsibilities, they might scale back aid to balance budgets, affecting vulnerable populations reliant on SNAP support. The Congressional Budget Office projects that some states will opt to decrease or terminate benefits altogether, further complicating access to essential nutrition for low-income residents.
Expanding Work Requirements
Work mandates within SNAP would extend to broader demographics, including older adults and specific parental categories. Current regulations require able-bodied adults without dependents aged 18-54 to fulfill monthly work commitments or risk limited benefit durations. Proposed amendments broaden these stipulations to ages 55-64 and certain parents whose youngest child is older than six, while restricting state waivers in high-unemployment areas. Such expansions anticipate reducing overall program participation by approximately 3.2 million people monthly.
By extending work requirements, the legislation seeks to incentivize employment among SNAP recipients across diverse age groups and family structures. Adults aged 55-64 and parents lacking younger children would now be subject to mandatory work hours or training programs, potentially excluding them from aid if unmet. Additionally, limitations on state exemptions in regions with insufficient job opportunities could exacerbate hardship for those unable to secure employment. These modifications align with broader efforts to curtail federal expenditures by diminishing SNAP enrollment, reflecting a shift towards emphasizing self-sufficiency through labor participation. However, critics argue this approach overlooks barriers faced by marginalized communities, possibly deepening food insecurity for many Americans.